Tyrosine kinase receptor flk-2 and fragments thereof

ABSTRACT

Isolated mammalian nucleic acid molecules encoding receptor protein tyrosine kinases expressed in primitive hematopoietic cells and not expressed in mature hematopoietic cells are provided. Also included are the receptors encoded by such nucleic acid molecules; the nucleic acid molecules encoding receptor protein tyrosine kinases having the sequences shown in FIG. 1 (murine flk-2), FIG. 2 (human flk-2) and FIG. 3 (murine flk-1); the receptor protein tyrosine kinases having the amino acid sequences shown in FIG. 1 (murine flk-2); FIG. 2 (human flk-2) and FIG. 3; ligands for the receptors; nucleic acid sequences that encode the ligands; and methods of stimulating the proliferation and/or differentiation of primitive mammalian hematopoietic stem cells comprising contacting the stem cells with a ligand that binds to a receptor protein tyrosine kinase expressed in primitive mammalian hematopoietic cells and not expressed in mature hematopoietic cells.

The invention described in this application was made with U.S. government support from Grant Numbers R01-CA45339 and R01-DK42989 awarded by the National Institutes of Health. The government has certain rights in this invention.

This application is a divisional of copending application Ser. No. 07/977/451 filed on Nov. 19, 1992, issued Dec. 14, 1993 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,270,458, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 975,049 filed Nov. 12, 1992, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 906,397 filed Jun. 26, 1992 which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 813,593 filed Dec. 24, 1991, issued Feb. 9, 1993 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,438 which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 793,065 filed Nov. 15, 1991, now abandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 728,913 filed Jun. 28, 1991, now abandoned which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 679,666 filed Apr. 2, 1991, now abandoned, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hematopoietic stem cell receptors, ligands for such receptors, and nucleic acid molecules encoding such receptors and ligands.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The mammalian hematopoietic system comprises red and white blood cells. These cells are the mature cells that result from more primitive lineage-restricted cells. The cells of the hematopoietic system have been reviewed by Dexter and Spooncer in the Annual Review of Cell Biology 3, 423-441 (1987).

The red blood cells, or erythrocytes, result from primitive cells referred to by Dexter and Spooncer as erythroid burst-forming units (BFU-E). The immediate progeny of the erythroid burst-forming units are called erythroid colony-forming units ( CFU-E ).

The white blood cells contain the mature cells of the lymphoid and myeloid systems. The lymphoid cells include B lymphocytes and T lymphocytes. The B and T lymphocytes result from earlier progenitor cells referred to by Dexter and Spooncer as preT and preB cells.

The myeloid system comprises a number of cells including granulocytes, platelets, monocytes, macrophages, and megakaryocytes. The granulocytes are further divided into neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils and mast cells.

Each of the mature hematopoietic cells are specialized for specific functions. For example, erythrocytes are responsible for oxygen and carbon dioxide transport. T and B lymphocytes are responsible for cell-and antibody-mediated immune responses, respectively. Platelets are involved in blood clotting. Granulocytes and macrophages act generally as scavengers and accessory cells in the immune response against invading organisms and their by-products.

At the center of the hematopoietic system lie one or more totipotent hematopoietic stem cells, which undergo a series of differentiation steps leading to increasingly lineage-restricted progenitor cells. The more mature progenitor cells are restricted to producing one or two lineages. Some examples of lineage-restricted progenitor cells mentioned by Dexter and Spooncer include granulocyte/macrophage colony-forming cells (GM-CFC), megakaryocyte colony-forming cells (Meg-CFC), eosinophil colony-forming cells (Eos-CFC), and basophil colony-forming cells (Bas-CFC). Other examples of progenitor cells are discussed above.

The hematopoietic system functions by means of a precisely controlled production of the various mature lineages. The totipotent stem cell possesses the ability both to self renew and to differentiate into committed progenitors for all hematopoietic lineages. These most primitive of hematopoietic cells are both necessary and sufficient for the complete and permanent hematopoietic reconstitution of a radiation-ablated hematopoietic system in mammals. The ability of stem cells to reconstitute the entire hematopoietic system is the basis of bone marrow transplant therapy.

It is known that growth factors play an important role in the development and operation of the mammalian hematopoietic system. The role of growth factors is complex, however, and not well understood at the present time. One reason for the uncertainty is that much of what is known about hematopoietic growth factors results from in vitro experiments. Such experiments do not necessarily reflect in vivo realities.

In addition, in vitro hematopoiesis can be established in the absence of added growth factors, provided that marrow stromal cells are added to the medium. The relationship between stromal cells and hematopoietic growth factors in vivo is not understood. Nevertheless, hematopoietic growth factors have been shown to be highly active in vivo.

From what is known about them, hematopoietic growth factors appear to exhibit a spectrum of activities. At one end of the spectrum are growth factors such as erythropoietin, which is believed to promote proliferation only of mature erythroid progenitor cells. In the middle of the spectrum are growth factors such as IL-3, which is believed to facilitate the growth and development of early stem cells as well as of numerous progenitor cells. Some examples of progenitor cells induced by IL-3 include those restricted to the granulocyte/macrophage, eosinophil, megakaryocyte, erythroid and mast cell lineages.

At the other end of the spectrum is the hematopoietic growth factor that, along with the corresponding receptor, was discussed in a series of articles in the Oct. 5, 1990 edition of Cell. The receptor is the product of the W locus, c-kit, which is a member of the class of receptor protein tyrosine kinases. The ligand for c-kit, which is referred to by various names such as stem cell factor (SCF) and mast cell growth factor (MGF), is believed to be essential for the development of early hematopoietic stem cells and cells restricted to the erythroid and mast cell lineages in mice; see, for example, Copeland et al., Cell 63, 175-183 (1990).

It appears, therefore, that there are growth factors that exclusively affect mature cells. There also appear to be growth factors that affect both mature cells and stem cells. The growth factors that affect both types of cells may affect a small number or a large number of mature cells.

There further appears to be an inverse relationship between the ability of a growth factor to affect mature cells and the ability of the growth factor to affect stem cells. For example, the c-kit ligand, which stimulates a small number of mature cells, is believed to be more important in the renewal and development of stem cells then is IL-3, which is reported to stimulate proliferation of many mature cells (see above).

Prior to the present specification, there have been no reports of growth factors that exclusively stimulate stem cells in the absence of an effect on mature cells. The discovery of such growth factors would be of particular significance.

As mentioned above, c-kit is a protein tyrosine kinase (pTK). It is becoming increasingly apparent that the protein tyrosine kinases play an important role as cellular receptors for hematopoietic growth factors. Other receptor pTKs include the receptors of colony stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) and PDGF.

The pTK family can be recognized by the presence of several conserved amino acid regions in the catalytic domain. These conserved regions are summarized by Hanks et al. in Science 241, 42-52 (1988), see FIG. 1 starting on page 46 and by Wilks in Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86, 1603-1607 (1989), see FIG. 2 on page 1605.

Additional protein tyrosine kinases that represent hematopoietic growth factor receptors are needed in order more effectively to stimulate the self-renewal of the totipotent hematopoietic stem cell and to stimulate the development of all cells of the hematopoietic system both in vitro and in vivo. Novel hematopoietic growth factor receptors that are present only on primitive stem cells, but are not present on mature progenitor cells, are particularly desired. Ligands for the novel receptors are also desirable to act as hematopoietic growth factors. Nucleic acid sequences encoding the receptors and ligands are needed to produce recombinant receptors and ligands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objectives as will be apparent to those with ordinary skill in the art have been met by providing isolated mammalian nucleic acid molecules encoding receptor protein tyrosine kinases expressed in primitive hematopoietic cells and not expressed in mature hematopoietic cells. Also included are the receptors encoded by such nucleic acid molecules; the nucleic acid molecules encoding receptor protein tyrosine kinases having the sequences shown in FIG. 1A through FIG. 1F (murine flk-2), FIG. 2A through FIG. 2F (human flk-2) and FIG. 3A through 3I (murine flk-1); the receptor protein tyrosine kinases having the amino acid sequences shown in FIG. 1A through FIG. 1F, FIGS. 2A through 2F and FIGS. 3A through 3I; through 3I; ligands for the receptors; nucleic acid sequences that encode the ligands; antibodies directed to the receptor protein kinases and antibodies directed to ligands for the receptors; and methods of stimulating the proliferation of primitive mammalian hematopoietic stem cells comprising contacting the stem cells with a ligand that binds to a receptor protein tyrosine kinase expressed in primitive mammalian hematopoietic cells and not expressed in mature hematopoietic cells.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGS. 1A-1F show the cDNA and amino acid sequences of murine flk-2. All subsequent references to FIG. 1 include FIGS. 1A through 1F. The amino acid residues occur directly below the nucleotides in the open reading frame. Amino acids -27 to -1 constitute the hydrophobic leader sequence. Amino acids 1 to 517 constitute the extracellular receptor domain. Amino acids 518 to 537 constitute the transmembrane region. Amino acids 538 to 966 constitute the intracellular catalytic domain. Counting amino acid residue -27 as residue number 1, the following amino acid residues in the intracellular domain are catalytic sub-domains identified by Hanks (see above): 618-623, 811-819, 832-834, 857-862, 872-878. The sequence at residues 709-785 is a signature sequence characteristic of flk-2. The protein tyrosine kinases generally have a signature sequence in this region. (See SEQ. ID. NOS. 1-2)

FIGS. 2A through 2F show the complete cDNA and amino acid sequences of human flk-2 receptor. All subsequent references to FIG. 2 include FIGS. 2A through 2F. Amino acids -27 to -1 constitute the hydrophobic leader sequence. Amino acids 1 to 516 constitute the extracellular receptor domain. Amino acids 517 to 536 constitute the transmembrane region. Amino acids 537 to 966 constitute the intracellular catalytic domain. (See SEQ. ID. NOS. 3-4)

FIGS. 3A through 3I shows the cDNA and amino acid sequences of murine flk-1. All subsequent references to FIG. 3 include FIGS. 3A through 3I. Amino acids -19 to -1 constitute the hydrophobic leader sequence. Amino acids 1 to 743 constitute the extracellular receptor domain. Amino acids 744 to 765 constitute the transmembrane region. Amino acids 766 to 1348 constitute the intracellular catalytic domain. (See SEQ. ID. NOS. 5-6)

FIG. 4 shows the time response of binding between a murine stromal cell line (2018) and APtag-flk-2 as well as APtag-flk-1. APtag without receptor (SEAP) is used as a control. See Example 8.

FIG. 5 shows the dose response of binding between stromal cells (2018) and APtag-flk-2 as well as APtag-flk-1. APtag without receptor (SEAP) is used as a control. See Example 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Receptors

In one embodiment, the invention relates to an isolated mammalian nucleic acid molecule encoding a receptor protein tyrosine kinase expressed in primitive mammalian hematopoietic cells and not expressed in mature hematopoietic cells.

The nucleic acid molecule may be a DNA, cDNA, or RNA molecule. The mammal in which the nucleic acid molecule exists may be any mammal, such as a mouse, rat, rabbit, or human.

The nucleic acid molecule encodes a protein tyrosine kinase (pTK). Members of the pTK family can be recognized by the conserved amino acid regions in the catalytic domains. Examples of pTK consensus sequences have been provided by Hanks et al. in Science 241, 42-52 (1988); see especially FIG. 1 starting on page 46 and by Wilks in Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86, 1603-1607 (1989); see especially FIG. 2 on page 1605. A methionine residue at position 205 in the conserved sequence WMAPES is characteristic of pTK's that are receptors.

The Hanks et al article identifies eleven catalytic sub-domains containing pTK consensus residues and sequences. The pTKs of the present invention will have most or all of these consensus residues and sequences.

Some particularly strongly conserved residues and sequences are shown in Table 1.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Conserved Residues and Sequences in pTKs.sup.1                                                Residue or                                                                               Catalytic                                             Position.sup.2 Sequence  Domain                                                ______________________________________                                         50             G         I                                                     52             G         I                                                     57             V         I                                                     70             A         II                                                    72             K         II                                                    91             E         III                                                   166            D         VI                                                    171            N         VI                                                    184-186        DFG       VII                                                   208            E         VIII                                                  220            D         IX                                                    225            G         IX                                                    280            R         XI                                                    ______________________________________                                          .sup.1 See Hanks et al., Science 241, 42-52 (1988)                             .sup.2 Adjusted in accordance with Hanks et al., Id.                     

A pTK of the invention may contain all thirteen of these highly conserved residues and sequences. As a result of natural or synthetic mutations, the pTKs of the invention may contain fewer than all thirteen strongly conserved residues and sequences, such as 11, 9, or 7 such sequences.

The receptors of the invention generally belong to the same class of pTK sequences that c-kit belongs to. It has surprisingly been discovered, however, that a new functional class of receptor pTKs exists. The new functional class of receptor pTKs is expressed in primitive hematopoietic cells, but not expressed in mature hematopoietic cells.

For the purpose of this specification, a primitive hematopoietic cell is totipotent, i.e. capable of reconstituting all hematopoietic blood cells in vivo. A mature hematopoietic cell is non-self-renewing, and has limited proliferative capacity --i.e., a limited ability to give rise to multiple lineages. Mature hematopoietic cells, for the purposes of this specification, are generally capable of giving rise to only one or two lineages in vitro or in vivo.

It should be understood that the hematopoietic system is complex, and contains many intermediate cells between the primitive totipotent hematopoietic stem cell and the totally committed mature hematopoietic cells defined above. As the stem cell develops into increasingly mature, lineage-restricted cells, it gradually loses its capacity for self-renewal.

The receptors of the present invention may and may not be expressed in these intermediate cells. The necessary and sufficient condition that defines members of the new class of receptors is that they are present in the primitive, totipotent stem cell or cells, and not in mature cells restricted only to one or, at most, two lineages.

An example of a member of the new class of receptor pTKs is called fetal liver kinase 2 (flk-2) after the organ in which it was found. There is approximately 1 totipotent stem cell per 10⁴ cells in mid-gestation (day 14) fetal liver in mice. In addition to fetal liver, flk-2 is also expressed in fetal spleen, fetal thymus, adult brain, and adult marrow.

For example, flk-2 is expressed in individual multipotential CFU-Blast colonies capable of generating numerous multilineage colonies upon replating. It is likely, therefore, that flk-2 is expressed in the entire primitive (i.e. self-renewing) portion of the hematopoietic hierarchy. This discovery is consistent with flk-2 being important in transducing putative self-renewal signals from the environment.

It is particularly relevant that the expression of flk-2 mRNA occurs in the most primitive thymocyte subset. Even in two closely linked immature subsets that differ in expression of the IL-2 receptor, flk-2 expression segregates to the more primitive subset lacking an IL-2 receptor. The earliest thymocyte subset is believed to be uncommitted. Therefore, the thymocytes expressing flk-2 may be multipotential. flk-2 is the first receptor tyrosine kinase known to be expressed in the T-lymphoid lineage.

The fetal liver mRNA migrates relative to 28S and 18S ribosomal bands on formaldehyde agarose gels at approximately3.5 kb, while the brain message is considerably larger. In adult tissues, flk-2 m-RNA from both brain and bone marrow migrated at approximately 3.5 kb.

A second pTK receptor is also included in the present invention. This second receptor, which is called fetal liver kinase 1 (flk-1), is not a member of the same class of receptors as flk-2, since flk-1 may be found in some more mature hematopoietic cells. The amino acid sequence of murine flk-1 is given in FIG. 3.

The present invention includes the flk-1 receptor as well as DNA, cDNA and RNA encoding flk-1. The DNA sequence of murine flk-1 is also given in FIG. 3. Flk-1 may be found in the same organs as flk-2, as well as in fetal brain, stomach, kidney, lung, heart and intestine; and in adult kidney, heart, spleen, lung, muscle, and lymph nodes.

The receptor protein tyrosine kinases of the invention are known to be divided into easily found domains. The DNA sequence corresponding to the pTKs encode, starting at their 5'-ends, a hydrophobic leader sequence followed by a hydrophilic extracellular domain, which binds to, and is activated by, a specific ligand. Immediately downstream from the extracellular receptor domain, is a hydrophobic transmembrane region. The transmembrane region is immediately followed by a basic catalytic domain, which may easily be identified by reference to the Hanks et al. and Wilks articles discussed above.

The following table shows the nucleic acid and amino acid numbers that correspond to the signal peptide, the extracellular domain, the transmembrane region and the intracellular domain for murine flk-1 (mflk-1), murine flk-2 (mflk-2) and human flk-2 (hflk-2).

    ______________________________________                                         Signal       Extra-     Trans-    Intra-                                       Peptide      cellular   membrane  cellular                                     ______________________________________                                         mFLK-1                                                                         aa #   -19 to -1 1 to 743   744 to 765                                                                             766 to 1348                                aa code                                                                               M  A      A  E       V  V    R  A                                       na #   208-264   265-2493   2494-2559                                                                              2560-4308                                  mFLK-2                                                                         aa #   -27 to -1 1 to 517   518 to 537                                                                             538 to 965                                 aa code                                                                               M  T      N  S       F  C    H  S                                       na #   31-111    112-1662   1663-1722                                                                              1723-3006                                  hFLK-2                                                                         aa #   -27 to -1 1 to 516   517 to 536                                                                             537 to 966                                 aa code                                                                               M  N      Q  F       Y  C    H  S                                       na #   58-138    139-1689   1690-1746                                                                              1747-3036                                  ______________________________________                                    

The present invention includes the extracellular receptor domain lacking the transmembrane region and catalytic domain. Preferably, the hydrophobic leader sequence is also removed from the extracellular domain. In the case of human and murine flk-2, the hydrophobic leader sequence includes amino acids -27 to -1.

These regions and domains may easily be visually identified by those having ordinary skill in the art by reviewing the amino acid sequence in a suspected pTK and comparing it to known pTKs. For example, referring to Figure la, the transmembrane region of flk-2, which separates the extracellular receptor domain from the catalytic domain, is encoded by nucleotides 1663 (T) to 1722 (C). These nucleotides correspond to amino acid residues 545 (Phe) to 564 (Cys). The amino acid sequence between the transmembrane region and the catalytic sub-domain (amino acids 618-623) identified by Hanks et al. as sub-domain I (i.e., GXGXXG) is characteristic of receptor protein tyrosine kinases.

The extracellular domain may also be identified through commonly recognized criteria of extracellular amino acid sequences. The determination of appropriate criteria is known to those skilled in the art, and has been described, for example, by Hopp et al, Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA 78, 3824-3828 (1981); Kyte et al, J. Mol. Biol. 157, 105-132 (1982); Emini, J. Virol. 55, 836-839 (1985); Jameson et al, CA BIOS 4, 181-186 (1988); and Karplus et al, Naturwissenschaften 72, 212-213 (1985). Amino acid domains predicted by these criteria to be surface exposed characteristic of extracellular domains.

As will be discussed in more detail below, the nucleic acid molecules that encode the receptors of the invention may be inserted into known vectors for use in standard recombinant DNA techniques. Standard recombinant DNA techniques are those such as are described in Sambrook et al., "Molecular Cloning," Second Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press (1987) and by Ausubel et al., Eds, "Current Protocols in Molecular Biology," Green Publishing Associates and Wiley-Interscience, New York (1987). The vectors may be circular (i.e. plasmids) or noncircular. Standard vectors are available for cloning and expression in a host. The host may be prokaryotic or eucaryotic. Prokaryotic hosts are preferably E. coli. Preferred eucaryotic hosts include yeast, insect and mammalian cells. Preferred mammalian cells include, for example, CHO, COS and human cells.

Ligands

The invention also includes ligands that bind to the receptor pTKs of the invention. In addition to binding, the ligands stimulate the proliferation of additional primitive stem cells, differentiation into more mature progenitor cells, or both.

The ligand may be a growth factor that occurs naturally in a mammal, preferably the same mammal that produces the corresponding receptor. The growth factor may be isolated and purified, or be present on the surface of an isolated population of cells, such as stromal cells.

The ligand may also be a molecule that does not occur naturally in a mammal. For example, antibodies, preferably monoclonal, raised against the receptors of the invention or against anti-ligand antibodies mimic the shape of, and act as, ligands if they constitute the negative image of the receptor or anti-ligand antibody binding site. The ligand may also be a nonprotein molecule that acts as a ligand when it binds to, or otherwise comes into contact with, the receptor.

In another embodiment, nucleic acid molecules encoding the ligands of the invention are provided. The nucleic acid molecule may be RNA, DNA or cDNA.

Stimulating Proliferation of Stem Cells

The invention also includes a method of stimulating the proliferation and/or differentiation of primitive mammalian hematopoietic stem cells as defined above. The method comprises contacting the stem cells with a ligand in accordance with the present invention. The stimulation of proliferation and/or differentiation may occur in vitro or in vivo.

The ability of a ligand according to the invention to stimulate proliferation of stem cells in Vitro and in vivo has important therapeutic applications. Such applications include treating mammals, including humans, whose primitive stem cells do not sufficiently undergo self-renewal. Example of such medical problems include those that occur when defects in hematopoietic stem cells or their related growth factors depress the number of white blood cells. Examples of such medical problems include anemia, such as macrocytic and aplastic anemia. Bone marrow damage resulting from cancer chemotherapy and radiation is another example of a medical problem that would be helped by the stem cell factors of the invention.

Functional Equivalents

The invention includes functional equivalents of the pTK receptors, receptor domains, and ligands described above as well as of the nucleic acid sequences encoding them. A protein is considered a functional equivalent of another protein for a specific function if the equivalent protein is immunologically cross-reactive with, and has the same function as, the receptors and ligands of the invention. The equivalent may, for example, be a fragment of the protein, or a substitution, addition or deletion mutant of the protein.

For example, it is possible to substitute amino acids in a sequence with equivalent amino acids. Groups of amino acids known normally to be equivalent are:

(a)Ala(A) Ser(S) Thr(T) Pro(P) Gly(G);

(b)Asn(N) Asp(D) Glu(E) Gln(Q);

(c) His(H) Arg(R) Lys(K);

(d)Met(M) Leu(L) Ile(I) Val(V); and

(e)Phe(F) Tyr(Y) Trp(W).

Substitutions, additions and/or deletions in the receptors and ligands may be made as long as the resulting equivalent receptors and ligands are immunologically cross reactive with, and have the same function as, the native receptors and ligands.

The equivalent receptors and ligands will normally have substantially the same amino acid sequence as the native receptors and ligands. An amino acid sequence that is substantially the same as another sequence, but that differs from the other sequence by means of one or more substitutions, additions and/or deletions is considered to be an equivalent sequence. Preferably, less than 25%, more preferably less than 10%, and most preferably less than 5% of the number of amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence of the native receptors and ligands are substituted for, added to, or deleted from.

Equivalent nucleic acid molecules include nucleic acid sequences that encode equivalent receptors and ligands as defined above. Equivalent nucleic acid molecules also include nucleic acid sequences that differ from native nucleic acid sequences in ways that do not affect the corresponding amino acid sequences.

ISOLATION OF NUCLEIC ACID MOLECULES AND PROTEINS

Isolation of Nucleic Acid Molecules Encoding Receptors

In order to produce nucleic acid molecules encoding mammalian stem cell receptors, a source of stem cells is provided. Suitable sources include fetal liver, spleen, or thymus cells or adult marrow or brain cells.

For example, suitable mouse fetal liver cells may be obtained at day 14 of gestation. Mouse fetal thymus cells may be obtained at day 14-18, preferably day 15, of gestation. Suitable fetal cells of other mammals are obtained at gestation times corresponding to those of mouse.

Total RNA is prepared by standard procedures from stem cell receptor-containing tissue. The total RNA is used to direct cDNA synthesis. Standard methods for isolating RNA and synthesizing cDNA are provided in standard manuals of molecular biology such as, for example, in Sambrook et al., "Molecular Cloning," Second Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press (1987) and in Ausubel et al., (Eds), "Current Protocols in Molecular Biology," Greene Associates/Wiley Interscience, New York (1990).

The cDNA of the receptors is amplified by known methods. For example, the cDNA may be used as a template for amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR); see Saiki et al., Science, 239, 487 (1988) or Mullis et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,683,195. The sequences of the oligonucleotide primers for the PCR amplification are derived from the sequences of known receptors, such as from the sequences given in FIGS. 1 and 2 for flk-2 and FIG. 3 for flk-1, preferably from flk-2. The oligonucleotides are synthesized by methods known in the art. Suitable methods include those described by Caruthers in Science 230, 281-285 (1985).

In order to isolate the entire protein-coding regions for the receptors of the invention, the upstream oligonucleotide is complementary to the sequence at the 5' end, preferably encompassing the ATG start codon and at least 5-10 nucleotides upstream of the start codon. The downstream oligonucleotide is complementary to the sequence at the 3' end, optionally encompassing the stop codon. A mixture of upstream and downstream oligonucleotides are used in the PCR amplification. The conditions are optimized for each particular primer pair according to standard procedures. The PCR product is analyzed by electrophoresis for the correct size cDNA corresponding to the sequence between the primers.

Alternatively, the coding region may be amplified in two or more overlapping fragments. The overlapping fragments are designed to include a restriction site permitting the assembly of the intact cDNA from the fragments.

The amplified DNA encoding the receptors of the invention may be replicated in a wide variety of cloning vectors in a wide variety of host cells. The host cell may be prokaryotic or eukaryotic. The DNA may be obtained from natural sources and, optionally, modified, or may be synthesized in whole or in part.

The vector into which the DNA is spliced may comprise segments of chromosomal, non-chromosomal and synthetic DNA sequences. Some suitable prokaryotic cloning vectors include plasmids from E. coli, such as colE1, pCR1, pBR322, pMB9, pUC, pKSM, and RP4. Prokaryotic vectors also include derivatives of phage DNA such as M13 and other filamentous single-stranded DNA phages.

Isolation of Receptors

DNA encoding the receptors of the invention are inserted into a suitable vector and expressed in a suitable prokaryotic or eucaryotic host. Vectors for expressing proteins in bacteria, especially E.coli, are known. Such vectors include the PATH vectors described by Dieckmann and Tzagoloff in J. Biol. Chem. 260, 1513-1520 (1985). These vectors contain DNA sequences that encode anthranilate synthetase (TrpE) followed by a polylinker at the carboxy terminus. Other expression vector systems are based on beta-galactosidase (pEX); lambda P_(L) ; maltose binding protein (pMAL); and glutathione S-transferase (pGST)--see Gene 67, 31 (1988) and Peptide Research 3, 167 (1990).

Vectors useful in yeast are available. A suitable example is the 2μ plasmid.

Suitable vectors for use in mammalian cells are also known. Such vectors include well-known derivatives of SV-40, adenovirus, retrovirus-derived DNA sequences and shuttle vectors derived from combination of functional mammalian vectors, such as those described above, and functional plasmids and phage DNA.

Further eukaryotic expression vectors are known in the art (e.g., P. J. Southern and P. Berg, J. Mol. Appl. Genet. 1, 327-341 (1982); S. Subramani et al, Mol. Cell. Biol. 1, 854-864 (1981); R. J. Kaufmann and P. A. Sharp, "Amplification And Expression Of Sequences Cotransfected with A Modular Dihydrofolate Reductase Complementary DNA Gene," J. Mol. Biol. 159, 601-621 (1982); R. J. Kaufmann and P. A. Sharp, Mol. Cell. Biol. 159, 601-664 (1982); S. I. Scahill et al, "Expression And Characterization Of The Product Of A Human Immune Interferon DNA Gene In Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells," Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 80, 4654-4659 (1983); G. Urlaub and L. A. Chasin, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 77, 4216-4220, (1980).

The expression vectors useful in the present invention contain at least one expression control sequence that is operatively linked to the DNA sequence or fragment to be expressed. The control sequence is inserted in the vector in order to control and to regulate the expression of the cloned DNA sequence. Examples of useful expression control sequences are the lac system, the trp system, the tac system, the trc system, major operator and promoter regions of phage lambda, the control region of fd coat protein, the glycolytic promoters of yeast, e.g., the promoter for 3-phosphoglycerate kinase, the promoters of yeast acid phosphatase, e.g., Pho5, the promoters of the yeast alpha-mating factors, and promoters derived from polyoma, adenovirus, retrovirus, and simian virus, e.g., the early and late promoters or SV40, and other sequences known to control the expression of genes of prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells and their viruses or combinations thereof.

Vectors containing the receptor-encoding DNA and control signals are inserted into a host cell for expression of the receptor. Some useful expression host cells include well-known prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Some suitable prokaryotic hosts include, for example, E. coli, such as E. coli SG-936, E. coli HB 101, E. coli W3110, E. coli X1776, E. coli X2282, E. coli DHI, and E. coli MRCl, Pseudomonas, Bacillus, such as Bacillus subtilis, and Streptomyces. Suitable eukaryotic cells include yeast and other fungi, insect, animal cells, such as COS cells and CHO cells, human cells and plant cells in tissue culture.

The human homologs of the mouse receptors described above are isolated by a similar strategy. RNA encoding the receptors are obtained from a source of human cells enriched for primitive stem cells. Suitable human cells include fetal spleen, thymus and liver cells, and umbilical cord blood as well as adult brain and bone marrow cells. The human fetal cells are preferably obtained on the day of gestation corresponding to mid-gestation in mice. The amino acid sequences of the human flk receptors as well as of the nucleic acid sequences encoding them are homologous to the amino acid and nucleotide sequences of the mouse receptors.

In the present specification, the sequence of a first protein, such as a receptor or a ligand, or of a nucleic acid molecule that encodes the protein, is considered homologous to a second protein or nucleic acid molecule if the amino acid or nucleotide sequence of the first protein or nucleic acid molecule is at least about 30% homologous, preferably at least about 50% homologous, and more preferably at least about 65% homologous to the respective sequences of the second protein or nucleic acid molecule. In the case of proteins having high homology, the amino acid or nucleotide sequence of the first protein or nucleic acid molecule is at least about 75% homologous, preferably at least about 85% homologous, and more preferably at least about 95% homologous to the amino acid or nucleotide sequence of the second protein or nucleic acid molecule.

Combinations of mouse oligonucleotide pairs are used as PCR primers to amplify the human homologs from the cells to account for sequence divergence. The remainder of the procedure for obtaining the human flk homologs are similar to those described above for obtaining mouse flk receptors. The less than perfect homology between the human flk homologs and the mouse oligonucleotides is taken into account in determining the stringency of the hybridization conditions.

Assay for expression of Receptors on Stem Cells

In order to demonstrate the expression of flk receptors on the surface of primitive hematopoietic stem cells, antibodies that recognize the receptor are raised. The receptor may be the entire protein as it exists in nature, or an antigenic fragment of the whole protein. Preferably, the fragment comprises the predicted extra-cellular portion of the molecule.

Antigenic fragments may be identified by methods known in the art. Fragments containing antigenic sequences may be selected on the basis of generally accepted criteria of potential antigenicity and/or exposure. Such criteria include the hydrophilicity and relative antigenic index, as determined by surface exposure analysis of proteins. The determination of appropriate criteria is known to those skilled in the art, and has been described, for example, by Hopp et al, Proc. Nat'l Acad. Sci. USA 78, 3824-3828 (1981); Kyte et al, J. Mol. Biol. 157, 105-132 (1982); Emini, J. Virol. 55, 836-839 (1985); Jameson et al, CA BIOS 4, 181-186 (1988); and Karplus et al, Naturwissenschaften 72, 212-213 (1985). Amino acid domains predicted by these criteria to be surface exposed are selected preferentially over domains predicted to be more hydrophobic or hidden.

The proteins and fragments of the receptors to be used as antigens may be prepared by methods known in the art. Such methods include isolating or synthesizing DNA encoding the proteins and fragments, and using the DNA to produce recombinant proteins, as described above.

Fragments of proteins and DNA encoding the fragments may be chemically synthesized by methods known in the art from individual amino acids and nucleotides. Suitable methods for synthesizing protein fragments are described by Stuart and Young in "Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis," Second Edition, Pierce Chemical Company (1984). Suitable methods for synthesizing DNA fragments are described by Caruthers in Science 230, 281-285 (1985).

If the receptor fragment defines the epitope, but is too short to be antigenic, it may be conjugated to a carrier molecule in order to produce antibodies. Some suitable carrier molecules include keyhole limpet hemocyanin, Ig sequences, TrpE, and human or bovine serum albumen. Conjugation may be carried out by methods known in the art. One such method is to combine a cysteine residue of the fragment with a cysteine residue on the carrier molecule.

The antibodies are preferably monoclonal. Monoclonal antibodies may be produced by methods known in the art. These methods include the immunological method described by Kohler and Milstein in Nature 256, 495-497 (1975) and Campbell in "Monoclonal Antibody Technology, The Production and Characterization of Rodent and Human Hybridomas" in Burdon et al., Eds, Laboratory Techniques in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Volume 13, Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam (1985); as well as by the recombinant DNA method described by Huse et al in Science 246, 1275-1281 (1989).

Polyclonal or monoclonal antisera shown to be reactive with receptor-encoded native proteins, such as with flk-1 and flk-2 encoded proteins, expressed on the surface of viable cells are used to isolate antibody-positive cells. One method for isolating such cells is flow cytometry; see, for example, Loken et al., European patent application 317,156. The cells obtained are assayed for stem cells by engraftment into radiation-ablated hosts by methods known in the art; see, for example, Jordan et al., Cell 61, 953-963 (1990).

Criteria for Novel Stem Cell Receptor Tyrosine Kinases Expressed in Stem Cells

Additional novel receptor tyrosine kinase cDNAs are obtained by amplifying cDNAs from stem cell populations using oligonucleotides as PCR primers; see above. Examples of suitable oligonucleotides are PTK1 and PTK2, which were described by Wilks et al. in Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 86, 1603-1607 (1989). Novel cDNA is selected on the basis of differential hybridization screening with probes representing known kinases. The cDNA clones hybridizing only at low stringency are selected and sequenced. The presence of the amino acid triplet DFG confirms that the sequence represents a kinase. The diagnostic methionine residue in the WMAPES motif is indicative of a receptor-like kinase, as described above. Potentially novel sequences obtained are compared to available sequences using databases such as Genbank in order to confirm uniqueness. Gene-specific oligonucleotides are prepared as described above based on the sequence obtained. The oligonucleotides are used to analyze stem cell enriched and depleted populations for expression. Such cell populations in mice are described, for example, by Jordan et al. in Cell 61, 953-956 (1990); Ikuta et al. in Cell 62, 863-864 (1990); Spangrude et al. in Science 241, 58-62 (1988); and Szilvassy et al. in Blood 74, 930--939 (1989). Examples of such human cell populations are described as CD33⁻ CD34⁺ by Andrews et al. in the Journal of Experimental Medicine 169, 1721-1731 (1989). Other human stem cell populations are described, for example, in Civin et al., European Patent Application 395,355 and in Loken et al., European Patent Application 317,156.

Isolating Ligands and Nucleic Acid Molecules Encoding Ligands

Cells that may be used for obtaining ligands include stromal cells, for example stromal cells from fetal liver, fetal spleen, fetal thymus and fetal or adult bone marrow. Cell lines expressing ligands are established and screened.

For example, cells such as stromal (non-hematopoietic) cells from fetal liver are immortalized by known methods. Examples of known methods of immortalizing cells include transduction with a temperature sensitive SV40 T-antigen expressed in a retroviral vector. Infection of fetal liver cells with this virus permits the rapid and efficient establishment of multiple independent cell lines. These lines are screened for ligand activity by methods known in the art, such as those outlined below.

Ligands for the receptors of the invention, such as flk-1 and flk-2, may be obtained from the cells in several ways. For example, a bioassay system for ligand activity employs chimeric tagged receptors; see, for example, Flanagan et al., Cell 63, 185-194 (1990). One strategy measures ligand binding directly via a histochemical assay. Fusion proteins comprising the extracellular receptor domains and secretable alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) are constructed and transfected into suitable cells such as NIH/3T3 or COS cells. Flanagan et al. refer to such DNA or amino acid constructs as APtag followed by the name of the receptor--i.e. APtag-c-kit. The fusion proteins bind with high affinity to cells expressing surface-bound ligand. Binding is detectable by the enzymatic activity of the alkaline phosphatase secreted into the medium. The bound cells, which are often stromal cells, are isolated from the APtag-receptor complex.

For example, some stromal cells that bind APtag-flk1 and APtag-flk2 fusion proteins include mouse fetal liver cells (see example 1); human fetal spleen cells (see example 3); and human fetal liver (example 3). Some stromal fetal thymus cells contain flk-1 ligand (example 3).

To clone the cDNA that encodes the ligand, a cDNA library is constructed from the isolated stromal cells in a suitable expression vector, preferably a phage such as CDM8, pSV Sport (BRL Gibco) or piH3, (Seed et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84, 3365-3369 (1987)). The library is transfected into suitable host cells, such as COS cells. Cells containing ligands on their surface are detected by known methods, see above.

In one such method, transfected COS cells are distributed into single cell suspensions and incubated with the secreted alkaline phosphatase-flk receptor fusion protein, which is present in the medium from NIH/3T3 or COS cells prepared by the method described by Flanagan et al., see above. Alkaline phosphatase-receptor fusion proteins that are not bound to the cells are removed by centrifugation, and the cells are panned on plates coated with antibodies to alkaline phosphatase. Bound cells are isolated following several washes with a suitable wash reagent, such as 5% fetal bovine serum in PBS, and the DNA is extracted from the cells. Additional details of the panning method described above may be found in an article by Seed et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84, 3365-3369 (1987).

In a second strategy, the putative extracellular ligand binding domains of the receptors are fused to the transmembrane and kinase domains of the human c-fms tyrosine kinase and introduced into 3T3 fibroblasts. The human c-fms kinase is necessary and sufficient to transduce proliferative signals in these cells after appropriate activation i.e. with the flk-1 or flk-2 ligand. The 3T3 cells expressing the chimeras are used to screen putative sources of ligand in a cell proliferation assay.

An alternate approach for isolating ligands using the fusion receptor-expressing 3T3 cells and insertional activation is also possible. A retrovirus is introduced into random chromosomal positions in a large population of these cells. In a small fraction, the retrovirus is inserted in the vicinity of the ligand-encoding gene, thereby activating it. These cells proliferate due to autocrine stimulation of the receptor. The ligand gene is "tagged" by the retrovirus, thus facilitating its isolation.

EXAMPLES Example 1.

Cells containing mouse flk-1 and flk-2 ligands. Murine stromal cell line 2018.

In order to establish stromal cell lines, fetal liver cells are disaggregated with collagen and grown in a mixture of Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM) and 10% heat-inactivated fetal calf serum at 37° C. The cells are immortalized by standard methods. A suitable method involves introducing DNA encoding a growth regulating- or oncogene-encoding sequence into the target host cell. The DNA may be introduced by means of transduction in a recombinant viral particle or transfection in a plasmid. See, for example, Hammerschmidt et al., Nature 340, 393-397 (1989) and Abcouwer et al, Biotechnology 7, 939-946 (1989). Retroviruses are the preferred viral vectors, although SV40 and Epstein-Barr virus can also serve as donors of the growth-enhancing sequences. A suitable retrovirus is the ecotropic retrovirus containing a temperature sensitive SV40 T-antigen (tsA58) and a G418 resistance gene described by McKay in Cell 66, 713-729 (1991). After several days at 37° C., the temperature of the medium is lowered to 32° C. Cells are selected with G418 (0.5 mg/ml). The selected cells are expanded and maintained.

A mouse stromal cell line produced by this procedure is called 2018 and was deposited on Oct. 30, 1991 in the American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, Md., USA (ATCC); accession number CRL 10907.

Example 2

Cells containing human flk-1 and flk-2 ligands.

Human fetal liver (18, 20, and 33 weeks after abortion), spleen (18 weeks after abortion), or thymus (20 weeks after abortion) is removed at the time of abortion and stored on ice in a balanced salt solution. After mincing into 1 mm fragments and forcing through a wire mesh, the tissue is washed one time in Hanks Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS).

The disrupted tissue is centrifuged at 200×g for 15 minutes at room temperature. The resulting pellet is resuspended in 10-20 ml of a tissue culture grade trypsin-EDTA solution (Flow Laboratories). The resuspended tissue is transferred to a sterile flask and stirred with a stirring bar at room temperature for 10 minutes. One ml of heat-inactivated fetal bovine calf serum (Hyclone) is added to a final concentration of 10% in order to inhibit trypsin activity. Collagenase type IV (Sigma) is added from a stock solution (10 mg/ml in HBSS) to a final concentration of 100 ug/ml in order to disrupt the stromat cells. The tissue is stirred at room temperature for an additional 2.5 hours; collected by centrifugation (400×g, 15 minutes); and resuspended in "stromal medium," which contains Iscove's modification of DMEM supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated fetal calf serum, 5% heat-inactivated human serum (Sigma), 4 mM L-glutamine, 1x sodium pyruvate, (stock of 100x Sigma), 1x non-essential amino acids (stock of 100 x, Flow), and a mixture of antibiotics kanomycin, neomycin, penicillin, streptomycin. Prior to resuspending the pellet in the stromal medium, the pellet is washed one time with HBSS. It is convenient to suspend the cells in 60 ml of medium. The number of cultures depends on the amount of tissue.

Example 3

Isolating Stromal cells

Resuspended Cells (example 2) that are incubated at 37° C. with 5% carbon dioxide begin to adhere to the plastic plate within 10-48 hours. Confluent monolayers may be observed within 7-10 days, depending upon the number of cells plated in the initial innoculum. Non-adherent and highly refractile cells adhering to the stromal cell layer as colonies are separately removed by pipetting and frozen. Non-adherent cells are likely sources of populations of self-renewing stem cells containing flk-2. The adherent stromal cell layers are frozen in aliquots for future studies or expanded for growth in culture.

An unexpectedly high level of APtag-flk-2 fusion protein binding to the fetal spleen cells is observed. Two fetal spleen lines are grown in "stromal medium," which is described in example 2.

Non-adherent fetal stem cells attach to the stromal cells and form colonies (colony forming unit--CFU). Stromal cells and CFU are isolated by means of sterile glass cylinders and expanded in culture. A clone, called Fsp 62891, contains the flk-2 ligand. Fsp 62891 was deposited in the American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, Md., U.S.A on Nov. 21, 1991, accession number CRL 10935.

Fetal liver and fetal thymus cells are prepared in a similar way. Both of these cell types produce ligands of flk-1 and, in the case of liver, some flk-2. One such fetal thymus cell line, called F.thy 62891, and one such fetal liver cell line, called FL 62891, were deposited in the American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, Md., U.S.A on Nov. 21, 1991 and Apr. 2, 1992, respectively, accession numbers CRL 10936 and CRL 11005, respectively.

Stable human cell lines are prepared from fetal cells with the same temperature sensitive immortalizing virus used to prepare the murine cell line described in example 1.

Example 4

Isolation of human stromal cell clone

Highly refractile cells overgrow patches of stromal cells, presumably because the stromal cells produce factors that allow the formation of the CFU. To isolate stromal cell clones, sterile glass cylinders coated with vacuum grease are positioned over the CFU. A trypsin-EDTA solution (100 ml) is added in order to detach the cells. The cells are added to 5 ml of stromal medium and each (clone) plated in a single well of 6-well plate.

Example 5

Plasmid (AP-tag) for expressing secretable alkaline phosphatase (SEAP)

Plasmids that express secretable alkaline phosphatase are described by Flanagan and Leder in Cell 63, 185-194 (1990). The plasmids contain a promoter, such as the LTR promoter; a polylinker, including HindIII and BglII; DNA encoding SEAP; a poly-A signal; and ampicillin resistance gene; and replication site.

Example 6

Plasmid for expressing APtag-flk-2 and APtag-flk-1 fusion proteins

Plasmids that express fusion proteins of SEAP and the extracellular portion of either flk-1 or flk-2 are prepared in accordance with the protocols of Flanagan and Leder in Cell 63, 185-194 (1990) and Berger et al., Gene 66, 1-10 (1988). Briefly, a HindIII--Bam HI fragment containing the extracellular portion of flk-1 or flk-2 is prepared and inserted into the HindIII-BglII site of the plasmid described in example 5.

Example 7

Production Of APtaq-flk-1 Or -flk-2 Fusion Protein

The plasmids from Example 6 are transfected into Cos-7 cells by DEAE-dextran (as described in Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Unit 16.13, "Transient Expression of Proteins Using Cos Cells," 1991); and cotransfected with a selectable marker, such as pSV7neo, into NIH/3T3 cells by calcium precipitation. The NIH/3T3 cells are selected with 600 μg/ml G418 in 100 mm plates. Over 300 clones are screened for secretion of placental alkaline phosphatase activity. The assay is performed by heating a portion of the supernatant at 65° C. for 10 minutes to inactivate background phosphatase activity, and measuring the OD₄₀₅ after incubating with 1M diethanolamine (pH 9.8), 0.5 mM MgCl₂, 10 mM L-homoarginine (a phosphatase inhibitor), 0.5 mg/ml BSA, and 12 mM p-nitrophenyl phosphate. Human placental alkaline phosphatase is used to perform a standard curve. The APtaq-flk-1 clones (F-1AP21-4) produce up to 10 μ g alkaline phosphatase activity/ml and the APtaq-flk-2 clones (F-2AP26-0) produce up to 0.5 μg alkaline phosphatase activity/ml.

Example 8

Assay For APtaq-flk-1 Or APtaq-flk-2 Binding To Cells

The binding of APtaq-flk-1 or APtag-flk-2 to cells containing the appropriate ligand is assayed by standard methods. See, for example, Flanagan and Leder, Cell 63:185-194, 1990). Cells (i.e., mouse stromal cells, human fetal liver, spleen or thymus, or various control cells) are grown to confluency in six-well plates and washed with HBHA (Hank's balanced salt solution with 0.5 mg/ml BSA, 0.02% NAN₃, 20 mM HEPES, pH 7.0). Supernatants from transfected COS or NIH/3T3 cells containing either APtaq-flk-1 fusion protein, APtag-flk-2 fusion protein, or APtag without a receptor (as a control) are added to the cell monolayers and incubated for two hours at room temperature on a rotating platform. The concentration of the APtaq-flk-1 fusion protein, APtag-flk-2 fusion protein, or APtag without a receptor is 60 ng/ml of alkaline phosphatase as determined by the standard alkaline phosphatase curve (see above). The cells are then rinsed seven times with HBHA and lysed in 350 μl of 1% Triton X-100, 10 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.0). The lysates are transferred to a microfuge tube, along with a further 150 μl rinse with the same solution. After vortexing vigorously, the samples are centrifuged for five minutes in a microfuge, heated at 65° C. for 12 minutes to inactivate cellular phosphatases, and assayed for phosphatase activity as described previously. Results of experiments designed to show the time and dose responses of binding between stromal cells containing the ligands to flk-2 and flk-1 (2018) and APtag-flk-2, APtag-flk-1 and APtag without receptor (as a control) are shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively.

Example 8A

Plasmids for expressing flk1/fms and flk2/fms fusion proteins

Plasmids that express fusion proteins of the extracellular portion of either flk-1 or flk-2 and the intracellular portion of c-fms (also known as colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor) are prepared in a manner similar to that described under Example 6 (Plasmid for expressing APtag-flk-2 and APtag-flk-1 fusion proteins). Briefly, a Hind III- Bam HI fragment containing the extracellular portion of flkl or flk2 is prepared and inserted into the Hind III--Bgl II site of a pLH expression vector containing the intracellular portion of c-fms.

8B. Expression of flk1/fms or flk2/fms in 3T3 cells

The plasmids from Example 11 are transfected into NIH/3T3 cells by calcium. The intracellular portion of c-fms is detected by Western blotting.

Example 9

Cloning and Expression of cDNA Coding For Mouse Ligand To flk-1 and flk-2 Receptors

cDNA expressing mouse ligand for flk-1 and flk-2 is prepared by known methods. See, for example, Seed, B., and Aruffo, A. PNAS 84:3365-3369, 1987; Simmons, D. and Seed, B. J. Immunol. 141:2797-2800; and D'Andrea, A. D., Lodish, H. F. and Wong, G. G. Cell 57:277-285, 1989).

The protocols are listed below in sequence: (a) RNA isolation; (b) poly A RNA preparation; (c) cDNA synthesis; (d) cDNA size fractionation; (e) propagation of plasmids (vector); (f) isolation of plasmid DNA; (g) preparation of vector pSV Sport (BRL Gibco) for cloning; (h) compilation of buffers for the above steps; (i) Transfection of cDNA encoding Ligands in Cos 7 Cells; (j) panning procedure; (k) Expression cloning of flk-1 or flk-2 ligand by establishment of an autocrine loop.

9a. Guanidinium thiocyanate/LiCl Protocol for RNA Isolation

For each ml of mix desired, 0.5 g guanidine thiocyanate (GuSCN) is dissolved in 0.55 ml of 25% LiCl (stock filtered through 0.45 micron filter). 20 μl of mercaptoethanol is added. (The resulting solution is not good for more than about a week at room temperature.)

The 2018 stromal cells are centrifuged, and 1 ml of the solution described above is added to up to 5×10⁷ cells. The cells are sheared by means of a polytron until the mixture is non-viscous. For small scale preparations (<10⁸ cells), the sheared mixture is layered on 1.5 ml of 5.7M CsCl (RNase free; 1.26 g CsCl added to every ml 10 mM EDTA pH8), and overlaid with RNase-free water if needed. The mixture is spun in an SW55 rotor at 50 krpm for 2 hours. For large scale preparations, 25 ml of the mixture is layered on 12 ml CsCl in an SW28 tube, overlaid as above, and spun at 24 krpm for 8 hours. The contents of the tube are aspirated carefully with a sterile pasteur pipet connected to a vacuum flask. Once past the CsCl interface, a band around the tube is scratched with the pipet tip to prevent creeping of the layer on the wall down the tube. The remaining CsCl solution is aspirated. The resulting pellet is taken up in water, but not redissolved. 1/10 volume of sodium acetate and three volumes of ethanol are added to the mixture, and spun. The pellet is resuspended in water at 70° C., if necessary. The concentration of the RNA is adjusted to 1 mg/ml and frozen.

It should be noted that small RNA molecules (e.g., 5S) do not come down. For small amounts of cells, the volumes are scaled down, and the mixture is overlaid with GuSCN in RNase-free water on a gradient (precipitation is inefficient when RNA is dilute).

9b. Poly A⁺ RNA preparation

(All buffers mentioned are compiled separately below)

A disposable polypropylene column is prepared by washing with 5M NaOH and then rinsing with RNase-free water. For each milligram of total RNA, approximately 0.3 ml (final packed bed) of oligo dT cellulose is added. The oligo dT cellulose is prepared by resuspending approximately 0.5 ml of dry powder in 1 ml of 0.1M NaOH and transferring it into the column, or by percolating 0.1M NaOH through a previously used column. The column is washed with several column volumes of RNase-free water until the pH is neutral, and rinsed with 2-3 ml of loading buffer. The column bed is transferred to a sterile 15 ml tube using 4-6 ml of loading buffer.

Total RNA from the 2018 cell line is heated to 70° C. for 2-3 minutes. LiCl from RNase-free stock is added to the mixture to a final concentration of 0.5M. The mixture is combined with oligo dT cellulose in the 15 ml tube, which is vortexed or agitated for 10 minutes. The mixture is poured into the column, and washed with 3 ml loading buffer, and then with 3 ml of middle wash buffer. The mRNA is eluted directly into an SW55 tube with 1.5 ml of 2 mM EDTA and 0.1% SDS, discarding the first two or three drops.

The eluted mRNA is precipitated by adding 1/10 volume of 3M sodium acetate and filling the tube with ethanol. The contents of the tube are mixed, chilled for 30 minutes at -20° C., and spun at 50 krpm at 5° C. for 30 minutes. After the ethanol is decanted, and the tube air dried, the mRNA pellet is resuspended in 50-100 μl of RNase-free water. 5 μl of the resuspended mRNA is heated to 70° C. in MOPS/EDTA/formaldehyde, and examined on an PNase-free 1% agarose gel.

9c. cDNA Synthesis

The protocol used is a variation of the method described by Gubler and Hoffman in Gene 25, 263-270 (1983).

1. First Strand. 4 μg of mRNA is added to a microfuge tube, heated to approximately 100° C. for 30 seconds, quenched on ice. The volume is adjusted to 70μl with RNAse-free water. 20 μl of RT1 buffer, 2 μl of RNAse inhibitor (Boehringer 36 u/μl), 1 μl of 5 μg/μl of oligo dT (Collaborative Research), 2.5 μl of 20 mM dXTP's (ultrapure--US Biochemicals), 1 μl of 1M DTT and 4 μl of RT-XL (Life Sciences, 24 u/μl) are added. The mixture is incubated at 42° C. for 40 minutes, and inactivated by heating at 70° C. for 10 minutes.

2. Second Strand. 320 μl of RNAse-free water, 80 μl of RT2 buffer, 5 μl of DNA Polymerase I (Boehringer, 5 U/μl), 2 μl RNAse H (BRL 2 u/μl) are added to the solution containing the first strand. The solution is incubated at 15° C. for one hour and at 22° C. for an additional hour. After adding 20 μl of 0.5M EDTA, pH 8.0, the solution is extracted with phenol and precipitated by adding NaCl to 0.M linear polyacrylamide (carrier) to 20 μg/ml, and filling the tube with EtOH. The tube is spun for 2-3 minutes in a microfuge, vortexed to dislodge precipitated material from the wall of the tube, and respun for one minute.

3. Adaptors. Adaptors provide specific restriction sites to facilitate cloning, and are available from BRL Gibco, New England Biolabs, etc. Crude adaptors are resuspended at a concentration of 1 μg/μl. MgSO₄ is added to a final concentration of 10 mM, followed by five volumes of EtOH. The resulting precipitate is rinsed with 70% EtOH and resuspended in TE at a concentration of 1 μg/μl. To kinase, 25 μl of resuspended adaptors is added to 3 μl of 10X kinasing buffer and 20 units of kinase. The mixture is incubated at 37° C. overnight. The precipitated cDNA is resuspended in 240 μl of TE (10/1). After adding 30 μl of 10X low salt buffer, 30 μl of 10X ligation buffer with 0.1 mM ATP, 3 μl (2.4 μg) of kinased 12-mer adaptor sequence, 2 μl (1.6 μg) of kinased 8-mer adaptor sequence, and 1 μl of T4 DNA ligase (BioLabs, 400 u/μl, or Boehringer, 1 Weiss unit ml), the mixture is incubated at 15° C. overnight. The cDNA is extracted with phenol and precipitated as above, except that the extra carrier is omitted, and resuspended in 100 μl of TE.

9d. cDNA Size Fractionation.

A 20% KOAc, 2 mM EDTA, 1 μg/ml ethidium bromide solution and a 5% KOAc, 2 mM EDTA, 1 μg/ml ethidium bromide solution are prepared. 2.6 ml of the 20% KOAc solution is added to the back chamber of a small gradient maker. Air bubbles are removed from the tube connecting the two chambers by allowing the 20% solution to flow into the front chamber and forcing the solution to return to the back chamber by tilting the gradient maker. The passage between the chambers is closed, and 2.5 ml of 5% solution is added to the front chamber. Any liquid in the tubing from a previous run is removed by allowing the 5% solution to flow to the end of the tubing, and then to return to its chamber. The apparatus is placed on a stirplate, and, with rapid stirring, the topcock connecting the two chambers and the front stopcock are opened. A polyallomer 5W55 tube is filled from the bottom with the KOAc solution. The gradient is overlaid with 100 μl of cDNA solution, and spun for three hours at 50k rpm at 22° C. To collect fractions from the gradient, the SW55 tube is pierced close to the bottom of the tube with a butterfly infusion set (with the luer hub clipped off). Three 0.5 ml fractions and then six 0.25 ml fractions are collected in microfuge tubes (approximately 22 and 11 drops, respectively). The fractions are precipitated by adding linear polyacrylamide to 20 μg/ml and filling the tube to the top with ethanol. The tubes are cooled, spun in a microfuge tube for three minutes, vortexed, and respun for one minute. The resulting pellets are rinsed with 70% ethanol and respun, taking care not to permit the pellets to dry to completion. Each 0.25 ml fraction is resuspended in 10 μl of TE, and 1 μl is run on a 1% agarose minigel. The first three fractions, and the last six which contain no material smaller than 1 kb are pooled.

9e. Propagation of Plasmids

SupF plasmids are selected in nonsuppressing bacterial hosts containing a second plasmid, p3, which contains amber mutated ampicillin and tetracycline drug resistance elements. See Seed, Nucleic Acids Res., 11, 2427-2445 (1983). The p3 plasmid is derived from RP1, is 57 kb in length, and is a stably maintained, single copy episome. The ampicillin resistance of this plasmid reverts at a high rate so that amp^(r) plasmids usually cannot be used in p3-containing strains. Selection for tetracycline resistance alone is almost as good as selection for ampicillintetracycline resistance. However, spontaneous appearance of chromosomal suppressor tRNA mutations presents an unavoidable background (frequency about 10⁻⁹) in this system. Colonies arising from spontaneous suppressor mutations are usually larger than colonies arising from plasmid transformation. Suppressor plasmids are selected in Luria broth (LB) medium containing ampicillin at 12.5 μg/ml and tetracycline at 7.5 μg/ml. For scaled-up plasmid preparations, M9 Casamino acids medium containing glycerol (0.8%) is employed as a carbon source. The bacteria are grown to saturation.

Alternatively, pSV Sport (BRL, Gaithersberg, Maryland) may be employed to provide SV40 derived sequences for replication, transcription initiation and termination in COS 7 cells, as well as those sequences necessary for replication and ampicillin resistance in E. coli.

9f. Isolation of Vector DNA/Plasmid

One liter of saturated bacterial cells are spun down in J6 bottles at 4.2 k rpm for 25 minutes. The cells are resuspended in 40 ml 10 mM EDTA, pH 8. 80 ml 0.2M NaOH and 1% SDS are added, and the mixture is swirled until it is clear and viscous. 40 ml 5M KOAc, pH 4.7 (2.5M KOAc, 2.5M HOAc) is added, and the mixture is shaken semi-vigorously until the lumps are approximately 2-3 mm in size. The bottle is spun at 4.2 k rpm for 5 minutes. The supernatant is poured through cheesecloth into a 250 ml bottle, which is then filled with isopropyl alcohol and centrifuged at 4.2 k rpm for 5 minutes. The bottle is gently drained and rinsed with 70% ethanol, taking care not to fragment the pellet. After inverting the bottle and removing traces of ethanol, the mixture is resuspended in 3.5 ml Tris base/EDTA (20 mM/10 mM). 3.75 ml of resuspended pellet and 0.75 ml 10 mg/ml ethidium bromide are added to 4.5 g CsCl. VTi80 tubes are filled with solution, and centrifuged for at least 2.5 hours at 80 k rpm. Bands are extracted by visible light with 1 ml syringe and 20 gauge or lower needle. The top of the tube is cut off with scissors, and the needle is inserted upwards into the tube at an angle of about 30 degrees with respect to the tube at a position about 3 mm beneath the band, with the bevel of the needle up. After the band is removed, the contents of the tube are poured into bleach. The extracted band is deposited in a 13 ml Sarstedt tube, which is then filled to the top with n-butanol saturated with 1M NaCl extract. If the amount of DNA is large, the extraction procedure may be repeated. After aspirating the butanol into a trap containing 5M NaOH to destroy ethidium, an approximately equal volume of 1M ammonium acetate and approximately two volumes of 95% ethanol are added to the DNA, which is then spun at 10 k rpm for 5 minutes. The pellet is rinsed carefully with 70% ethanol, and dried with a swab or lyophilizer.

9q. Preparation of Vector for Cloning

20 μg of vector is cut in a 200 μl reaction with 100 units of BstXI (New York Biolabs) at 50° C. overnight in a well thermostated, circulating water bath. Potassium acetate solutions (5 and 20%) are prepared in 5W55 tubes as described above. 100 μl of the digested vector is added to each tube and spun for three hours, 50 k rpm at 22° C. Under 300 nm UV light, the desired band is observed to migrate 2/3 of the length of the tube. Forward trailing of the band indicates that the gradient is overloaded. The band is removed with a 1 ml syringe fitted with a 20 gauge needle. After adding linear polyacrylamide and precipitating the plasmid by adding three volumes of ethanol, the plasmid is resuspended in 50 μl of TE. Trial ligations are carried out with a constant amount of vector and increasing amounts of cDNA. Large scale ligation are carried out on the basis of these trial ligations. Usually the entire cDNA prep requires 1-2 μg of cut vector.

9h. Buffers

Loading Buffer: 0.5 M LiCl, 10 mM Tris pH 7.5, 1 mM EDTA 0.1% SDS.

Middle Wash Buffer: 0.15M LiCl, 10 mM Tris pH 7.5, 1 mM EDTA 0.1% SDS.

RT1 Buffer: 0.25M Tris pH 8.8 (8.2 at 42⁻), 0.25M KCl, 30 mM MgCl₂.

RT2 Buffer: 0.1M Tris pH 7.5, 25 mM MgCl2, 0.5M KCl, 0.25 mg/ml BSA, 50 mM dithiothreitol (DTT).

10X Low Salt: 60 mM Tris pH 7.5, 60 mM MgCl₂, 50 mM NaCl, 2.5 mg/ml BSA 70 mM DME

10X Ligation Additions: 1 mM ATP, 20 mM DTT, 1 mg/ml BSA 10 mM spermidine.

10X Kinasing Buffer:0.5M Tris pH 7.5, 10 mM ATP, 20 mM DTT, 10 mM spermidine, 1 mg/ml BSA 100 mM MgCl2

9i. Transfection of cDNA encoding Ligands in Cos 7 Cells

Cos 7 cells are split 1:5 into 100 mm plates in Dulbecco's modified Eagles medium (DME)/10% fetal calf serum (FCS), and allowed to grow overnight. 3 ml Tris/DME (0.039M Tris, pH 7.4 in DME) containing 400 μg/ml DEAE-dextran (Sigma, D-9885) is prepared for each 100 mm plate of Cos 7 cells to be transfected. 10 μg of plasmid DNA preparation per plate is added. The medium is removed from the Cos-7 cells and the DNA/DEAE-dextran mixture is added. The cells are incubated for 4.5 hours. The medium is removed from the cells, and replaced with 3 ml of DME containing 2% fetal calf serum (FCS) and 0.1 mM chloroquine. The cells are incubated for one hour. After removing the chloroquine and replacing with 1.5 ml 20% glycerol in PBS, the cells are allowed to stand at room temperature for one minute. 3 ml Tris/DME is added, and the mixture is aspirated and washed two times with Tris/DME. 10 ml DME/10% FCS is added and the mixture is incubated overnight. The transfected Cos 7 cells are split 1:2 into fresh 100 mm plates with (DME)/10% FCS and allowed to grow.

9j. Panning Procedure for Cos 7 cells Expressing Ligand

1) Antibody-coated plates:

Bacteriological 100 mm plates are coated for 1.5 hours with rabbit anti-human placental alkaline phosphatase (Dako, Calif.) diluted 1:500 in 10 ml of 50 mM Tris.HCl, pH 9.5. The plates are washed three times with 0.15M NaCl, and incubated with 3 mg BSA/ml PBS overnight. The blocking solution is aspirated, and the plates are utilized immediately or frozen for later use.

2) Panning cells:

The medium from transfected Cos 7 cells is aspirated, and 3 ml PBS/0.5 mM EDTA/0.02% sodium azide is added. The plates are incubated at 37° C. for thirty minutes in order to detach the cells. The cells are triturated vigorously with a pasteur pipet and collected in a 15 ml centrifuge tube. The plate is washed with a further 2 ml PBS/EDTA/azide solution, which is then added to the centrifuge tube. After centrifuging at 200 ×g for five minutes, the cells are resuspended in 3 ml of APtaq-flk-1 (F-1AP21-4) or flk-2 (F-2AP26-0) supernatant from transfected NIH/3T3 cells (see Example 7.), and incubated for 1.5 hours on ice. The cells are centrifuged again at 200 ×g for five minutes. The supernatant is aspirated, and the cells are resuspended in 3 ml PBS/EDTA/azide solution. The cell suspension is layered carefully on 3 ml PBS/EDTA/azide/2% Ficoll, and centrifuged at 200 ×g for four minutes. The supernatant is aspirated, and the cells are resuspended in 0.5 ml PBS/EDTA/azide solution. The cells are added to the antibody-coated plates containing 4 ml PBS/EDTA/azide/5% FBS, and allowed to stand at room temperature one to three hours. Non-adhering cells are removed by washing gently two or three times with 3 ml PBS/5% FBS.

3) Hirt Supernatant:

0.4 ml 0.6% SDS and 10 mM EDTA are added to the panned plates, which are allowed to stand 20 minutes. The viscuous mixture is added by means of a pipet into a microfuge tube. 0.1 ml 5M NaCl is added to the tube, mixed, and chilled on ice for at least five hours. The tube is spun for four minutes, and the supernatant is removed carefully. The contents of the tube are extracted with phenol once, or, if the first interface is not clean, twice. Ten micrograms of linear polyacrylamide (or other carrier) is added, and the tube is filled to the top with ethanol. The resulting precipitate is resuspended in 0.1 ml water or TE. After adding 3 volumes of EtOH/NaOAc, the cells are reprecipitated and resuspended in 0.1 ml water or TE. The cDNA obtained is transfected into any suitable E. coli host by electroporation. Suitable hosts are described in various catalogs, and include MC1061/p3 or Electromax DH10B Cells of BRL Gibco. The cDNA is extracted by conventional methods.

The above panning procedure is repeated until a pure E. coli clone bearing the cDNA as a unique plasmid recombinant capable of transfecting mammalian cells and yielding a positive panning assay is isolated. Normally, three repetitions are sufficient.

9k. Expression cloning of flk1 or flk2 ligand by establishment of an autocrine loop

Cells expressing flk1/fms or flk2/fms (Example 10) are transfected with 20-30 μg of a cDNA library from either flk1 ligand or flk2 ligand expressing stromal cells, respectively. The cDNA library is prepared as described above (a-h). The cells are co-transfected with 1 μg pLTR neo cDNA. Following transfection the cells are passaged 1:2 and cultured in 800 μg/ml of G418 in Dulbecco's medium (DME) supplemented with 10% CS. Approximately 12 days later the colonies of cells are passaged and plated onto dishes coated with poly -D- lysine (1 mg/ml) and human fibronectin (15 μg/ml). The culture medium is defined serum-free medium which is a mixture (3:1) of DME and Ham's F12 medium. The medium supplements are 8 mMNaHCO₃, 15 mM HEPES pH 7.4, 3 mM histidine, 4 μM MnCl₂, 10 uM ethanolamine, 0.1 μM selenous acid, 2 μM hydrocortisone, 5 μg/ml transferrin, 500 μg/ml bovine serum albumin/linoleic acid complex, and 20 μg/ml insulin (Ref. Zhan, X, et al. Oncogene 1: 369-376,1987). The cultures are refed the next day and every 3 days until the only cells capable of growing under the defined medium condition remain. The remaining colonies of cells are expanded and tested for the presence of the ligand by assaying for binding of APtag-flk1 or APtag-flk2 to the cells (as described in Example 8). The DNA would be rescued from cells demonstrating the presence of the flk1 or flk2 ligand and the sequence.

Example 10

Expression of Ligand cDNA

The cDNA is sequenced, and expressed in a suitable host cell, such as a mammalian cell, preferably COS, CHO or NIH/3T3 cells. The presence of the ligand is confirmed by demonstrating binding of the ligand to APtag-flk2 fusion protein (see above).

Example 11

Chemical Cross Linking of Receptor and Ligand

Cross linking experiments are performed on intact cells using a modification of the procedure described by Blume-Jensen et al et al., EMBO J., 10, 4121-4128 (1991). Cells are cultured in 100 mm tissue culture plates to subconfluence and washed once with PBS-0.1% BSA.

To examine chemical cross linking of soluble receptor to membrane-bound ligand, stromal cells from the 2018 stromal cell line are incubated with conditioned media (CM) from transfected 3T3 cells expressing the soluble receptor Flk2-APtag. Cross linking studies of soluble ligand to membrane bound receptor are performed by incubating conditioned media from 2018 cells with transfected 3T3 cells expressing a Flk2-fms fusion construct.

Binding is carried out for 2 hours either at room temperature with CM containing 0.02% sodium azide to prevent receptor internalization or at 4° C. with CM (and buffers) supplemented with sodium vanadate to prevent receptor dephosphorylation. Cells are washed twice with PBS-0.1% BSA and four times with PBS.

Cross linking is performed in PBS containing 250 mM disuccinimidyl suberate (DSS; Pierce) for 30 minutes at room temperature. The reaction is quenched with Tris-HCL pH7.4 to a final concentration of 50 mM.

Cells are solubilized in solubilization buffer: 0.5% Triton-X100, 0.5% deoxycholic acid, 20 mM Tris pH 7.4, 150 mM NaCl, 10mM EDTA, 1 mM PMFS, 50 mg/ml aprotinin, 2 mg/ml bestatin, 2 mg/ml pepstatin and 10mg/ml leupeptin. Lysed cells are immediately transferred to 1.5 ml Nalgene tubes and solubilized by rolling end to end for 45 minutes at 4° C. Lysates are then centrifuged in a microfuge at 14,000 g for 10 minutes. Solubilized cross linked receptor complexes are then retrieved from lysates by incubating supernatants with 10% (v/v) wheat germ lectin-Sepharose 6MB beads (Pharmacia) at 4° C. for 2 hours or overnight.

Beads are washed once with Tris-buffered saline (TBS) and resuspended in 2X SDS-polyacrylamide nonreducing sample buffer. Bound complexes are eluted from the beads by heating at 95° C. for 5 minutes. Samples are analyzed on 4-12% gradient gels (NOVEX) under nonreducing and reducing conditions (0.35 M 2-mercaptoethanol) and then transferred to PVDF membranes for 2 hours using a Novex blotting apparatus. Blots are blocked in TBS-3% BSA for 1 hour at room temperature followed by incubation with appropriate antibody.

Cross linked Flk2-APtag and Flk2-fms receptors are detected using rabbit polyclonal antibodies raised against human alkaline phosphatase and fms protein, respectively. The remainder of the procedure is carried out according to the instructions provided in the ABC Kit (Pierce). The kit is based on the use of a biotinylated secondary antibody and avidin-biotinylated horseradish peroxidase complex for detection.

Example 12

Expression and purification of Flag-Flk-2.

1. Design of the Flag-Flk2 expression plasmids.

A synthetic DNA fragment (Fragment 1) is synthesized using complementary oligonucleotides BP1 and BP2 (see below and SEQ. ID. NOS. 7 and 8). The fragment encoded the following features in the 5' to 3' order: Sal I restriction site, 22 base pair (bp) 5' untranslated region containing an eukaryotic ribosome binding site, an ATG initiation codon, preprotrypsinogen signal sequence, coding region for the FLAG peptide (DYKDDDDKI) and Bg1 II restriction site.

A cDNA fragment (Fragment 2) encoding Asn 27 to Ser 544 of murine Flk2 is obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers designed to introduce an in frame Bgl II site at the 5' end (oligonucleotide BP5, see below and SEQ. ID. NO. 9) and a termination codon followed by a Not I site at the 3' end (oligonucleotide BP10, see below and SEQ. ID. NO. 10). The template for the PCR reaction is full length Flk2 cDNA (Matthews et al., Cell 65:1143 (1991)). Fragment 2 is extensively digested with Bgl II and Not I restriction enzymes prior to ligation. To assemble the complete Flag-Flk2 gene, Fragments 1 and 2 are ligated in a tripartate ligation into Sal I and Not I digested plasmid pSPORT (Gibco/BRL, Grand Island, N.Y.) to give the plasmid pFlag-Flk2.

Preferably, the Flag-Flk2 protein is attached at either end to the Fc portion of an immunoglobulin (Ig). The Ig is preferably attached to the Flk2 portion of the Flag-Flk2 protein. To assemble the construct pFlag-FLK2-Ig, the sequences coding for the CH¹ domain of human immunoglobulin G (IgG¹) are placed downstream of the Flk2 coding region in the plasmid pFlag-Flk2 as per the method described by Zettlemeissl et al., DNA and Cell Biology 1: 347-352 (1990).

The sequences of oligonucleotides used to construct the Flag-Flk2 gene are given below:

    __________________________________________________________________________     Oligonucleotide BP1 (SEQ. ID NO. 7)                                            5'-AATTCGTCGACTTTCTGTCACCATGAGTGCACTTCTGATCCTAGCCCTTGTG                        GGAGCTGCTGTTGCTGACTACAAAGATGATGATGACAAGATCTA-3'                                Oligonucleotide BP2 (SEQ. ID NO. 8)                                            5'-AGCTTAGATCTTGTCATCATCATCTTTGTAGTCAGCAACAGCAGCTCCCACA                        AGGGCTAGGATCAGAAGTGCACTCATGGTGACAGAAAGTCGACG-3'                                Oligonucleotide BP5 (SEQ. ID NO. 9)                                            5'-TGAGAAGATCTCAAACCAAGACCTGCCTGT-3'                                           Oligonucleotide BP10 (SEQ. ID NO. 10)                                          5'-CCAATGGCGGCCGCTCAGGAGATGTTGTCTTGGA-3'                                       __________________________________________________________________________

2. Expression of the Flag-Flk2 construct.

For transient expression of the Flag-Flk2 construct, the Sal1 to Not I fragment from pFlag-Flk2 is subcloned into the plasmid pSVSPORT (Gibco/BRL) to give the plasmid pSVFlag-Flk2. For expression of the Flag-Flk2 protein pSVFlag-Flk2 is transfected into COS monkey cells using the DEAE-dextran method.

For stable expression in eukaryotic cells, the Sal I-Not I fragment of pFlag-Flk2 is cloned into the EcoRV and Not I sites of the plasmid pcDNA I/Neo (Invitrogen Co., San Diego, Calif.). The Sal I 3' recessed terminus of pFlag-Flk2 is filled with the Klenow fragment of DNA polymerase I and a mixture of deoxyribonucleotides to make the site compatible with the EcoRV site of the vector. The resulting construct is introduced into cultured mamalian cells using either the Lipofectin (Gibco/BRL) or the calcium phosphate methods.

For expression in insect cells, the SalI to Hind III (from pSPORT polylinker) fragment of pFlag-Flk2 is subcloned into the BamH1-Hind III sites of the baculovirus transfer vector pBlueBac III (Invitrogen). The vector Bam HI site and the insert Sal I site are blunted with Klenow (see above). Production of the recombinant virus and infection of the Sf9 insect cells is performed as per manufacturers directions (Invitrogen).

Expression of the Flag-Flk2 protein is detected by Western blotting of SDS-PAGE separated conditioned media (mamalian cells) or cell lysates (insect cells) with the anti-Flag monoclonal antibody (mAb) M1 (International Biotechnology, Inc. [IBI], New Haven, Conn.).

3. Affinity purification of the Flag-Flk2 protein from conditioned media or insect cell lysates is performed using immobilized mAb M1 (IBI) as per manufacturers specifications.

3.1 Affinity purification of the Flag-Flk2-Ig¹ protein from conditioned media is performed using immobilized Protein A (Pharmacia LKB, Piscataway, N.J.) as per the manufacturers instructions.

II. Use of the Flag-Flk2 protein to search for the Flk2 ligand.

1. Binding and cross-linking studies to detect membrane-bound ligand:

A. Binding studies.

Murine stromal lines (e.g. 2018 cells ATCC CRL 10907 (see below), see example 1, supra) considered to be candidates for expression of the Flk2 ligand were deposited at the American Type Culture Collection, ATCC CRL 10907 (see below) and cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagles medium (DMEM; Gibco/BRL) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum. The cells are grown to confluency in 10 cm plates and washed once with PBS. Conditioned media containing Flag-Flk2 is incubated with the cells at 4° C. for 2 hrs. The cell monolayers are rinsed extensively to remove the non-bound protein, solubilized and centrifuged to remove insoluble cellular material. Glycoproteins in the lysates are partially purified with wheat germ agglutinin-Sepharose (Pharmacia LKB, Piscataway, N.J.), boiled in an SDS sample buffer, separated on SDS-PAGE gels and transferred to nitrocellulose membranes. The membranes are probed with the M1 antibody to detect the presence of cell-associated Flag-Flk2 protein.

B. In a cross-linking study, the above protocol is followed except that prior to solubilization the monolayer are treated with the crosslinker disuccinimidyl suberate (DSS; Pierce, Rockford, Ill.). The presence of a putative ligand is detected by an upward shift in the apparent molecular weight of the Flag-Flk2 band on Western blots.

C. Purified Flag-Flk2 protein labelled with Na125I via the Chloramine T method is used to asses the ability of the soluble extracellular domain of the Flk2 receptor to bind transmembrane form of the Flk2 ligand in cultured stromal lines. The labelled protein is added to monolayers of stromal cells on ice for 2 hr in the presence or absence of excess unlabelled protein. Specific binding is calculated by subtracting counts bound in the presence of excess unlabelled protein from the total counts bound.

2. Use of the Flag-Flk2 protein to search for secreted form of the ligand.

A. The Flag-Flk2 protein is used in attempts to identify the Flk2 ligand in conditioned media from stromal cell cultures via modification of the direct N-terminal sequencing method of Pan et al., Bioch. Biophys. Res. Comm. 166:201 (1990). Briefly, the Flag-Flk2 protein N-terminally sequenced by automatic Edman degradation chemistry an an ABI 477A sequncer with on line PTH amino acid analysis. Approximatelly 15 amino acids are determined. The protein is then immobilized on Nugel PAF silica beads via free NH4+ groups. The immobilized Flag-Flk2 is incubated with conditioned media from putative ligand-producing cells for 30 min at 4° C. and washed free off non-bound proteins with phosphate buffered saline adjusted to 2M NaCl. The resulting protein complex is resequenced. For each sequencing cycle, any amino acid not expected at this position in the FLAG-Flk2 protein is considered as possibly originating from a protein complexed to the Flk2 receptor.

B. For conventional affinity chromatography, the Flag-Flk2 protein is immobilized on a stable support such as Sepharose. 35S-methionine labelled-conditioned media from stromal cell lines are passed over the affinity matrix and bound material is analyzed by SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis and autoradiography.

3. Use of the Flag-Flk2 protein in expression cloning experiments.

A method of expression cloning of integral membrane proteins in COS cells has been described (Aruffo and Seed, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 84:8573 (1987)). A cDNA library is prepared from an appropriate stromal cell line such as 2018 and is transfected into COS cells. Cells transiently expressing the Flk2 ligand are affinity adsorbed onto plastic plates coated with the Flag-Flk2 protein. The cells are lysed, the plasmid DNA is recovered and amplified in a bacterial host. The cycle of transfection into COS cells is repeated until a single cDNA clone encoding the ligand molecule is isolated.

In a modification of the above technique, pools of transfected COS cells are screened for binding of 125I-Flag-Flk2. Positive cells pools are selected and plasmid DNA is recovered and amplified in E. coli. The resulting DNA preparation is used in subsequent rounds of transfection and transient expression until all cells are positive for binding of 125I-Flag-Flk2. The cDNA in the final plasmid preparation is then sequenced to determine the sequnce of the putative Flk-2 ligand.

SUPPLEMENTAL ENABLEMENT

The invention as claimed is enabled in accordance with the above specification and readily available references and starting materials. Nevertheless, Applicants have deposited with the American Type Culture Collection, Rockville, Md., USA (ATCC) the cell lines listed below:

2018, ATCC accession no. CRL 10907, deposited Oct. 30, 1991.

Fsp 62891, ATCC accession no. CRL 10935, deposited Nov. 21, 1991.

F.thy 62891, ATCC accession no. CRL 10936, deposited Nov. 21, 1991.

FL 62891, ATCC accession no. CRL 11005, deposited Apr. 2, 1992.

These deposits were made under the provisions of the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure and the regulations thereunder (Budapest Treaty). This assures maintenance of a viable culture for 30 years from date of deposit. The organisms will be made available by ATCC under the terms of the Budapest Treaty, and subject to an agreement between Applicants and ATCC which assures unrestricted availability upon issuance of the pertinent U.S. patent. Availability of the deposited strains is not to be construed as a license to practice the invention in contravention of the rights granted under the authority of any government in accordance with its patent laws.

    __________________________________________________________________________     SEQUENCE LISTING                                                               (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:                                                       (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 10                                                  (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 3453 base pairs                                                    (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                                       (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                         (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO                                                             (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: N-terminal                                                 (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: matpeptide                                                       (B) LOCATION: 112..3006                                                        (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: sigpeptide                                                       (B) LOCATION: 31..111                                                          (ix) FFATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 31..3009                                                         (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:                                        GCGGCCTGGCTACCGCGCGCTCCGGAGGCCATG CGGGCGTTGGCGCAGCGCAGC54                      MetArgAlaLeuAlaGlnArgSer                                                       27-25- 20                                                                      GACCGGCGGCTGCTGCTGCTTGT TGTTTTGTCAGTAATGATTCTTGAG102                           AspArgArgLeuLeuLeuLeuValValLeuSerValMetIleLeuGlu                               15-10-5                                                                        ACCGTTACAAACCAAGACCTGCC TGTGATCAAGTGTGTTTTAATCAGT150                           ThrValThrAsnGlnAspLeuProValIleLysCysValLeuIleSer                               1510                                                                           CATGAGAACAATGGCTCATCAGCGGGAAAG CCATCATCGTACCGAATG198                           HisGluAsnAsnGlySerSerAlaGlyLysProSerSerTyrArgMet                               152025                                                                         GTGCGAGGATCCCCAGAAGACCTCCAGTGTACCCCGAGG CGCCAGAGT246                           ValArgGlySerProGluAspLeuGlnCysThrProArgArgGlnSer                               30354045                                                                       GAAGGGACGGTATATGAAGCGGCCACCGTGGAGGTGG CCGAGTCTGGG294                           GluGlyThrValTyrGluAlaAlaThrValGluValAlaGluSerGly                               505560                                                                         TCCATCACCCTGCAAGTGCAGCTCGCCACCCCAGGGGA CCTTTCCTGC342                           SerIleThrLeuGlnValGlnLeuAlaThrProGlyAspLeuSerCys                               657075                                                                         CTCTGGGTCTTTAAGCACAGCTCCCTGGGCTGCCAGCCGCAC TTTGAT390                           LeuTrpValPheLysHisSerSerLeuGlyCysGlnProHisPheAsp                               808590                                                                         TTACAAAACAGAGGAATCGTTTCCATGGCCATCTTGAACGTGACAGAG 438                           LeuGlnAsnArgGlyIleValSerMetAlaIleLeuAsnValThrGlu                               95100105                                                                       ACCCAGGCAGGAGAATACCTACTCCATATTCAGAGCGAACGCGCCAAC486                            ThrG lnAlaGlyGluTyrLeuLeuHisIleGlnSerGluArgAlaAsn                              110115120125                                                                   TACACAGTACTGTTCACAGTGAATGTAAGAGATACACAGCTGTATGTG534                            Ty rThrValLeuPheThrValAsnValArgAspThrGlnLeuTyrVal                              130135140                                                                      CTAAGGAGACCTTACTTTAGGAAGATGGAAAACCAGGATGCACTGCTC582                            Leu ArgArgProTyrPheArgLysMetGluAsnGlnAspAlaLeuLeu                              145150155                                                                      TGCATCTCCGAGGGTGTTCCGGAGCCCACTGTGGAGTGGGTGCTCTGC630                            CysIle SerGluGlyValProGluProThrValGluTrpValLeuCys                              160165170                                                                      AGCTCCCACAGGGAAAGCTGTAAAGAAGAAGGCCCTGCTGTTGTCAGA678                            SerSerHisArgG luSerCysLysGluGluGlyProAlaValValArg                              175180185                                                                      AAGGAGGAAAAGGTACTTCATGAGTTGTTCGGAACAGACATCAGATGC726                            LysGluGluLysValLeuHisGl uLeuPheGlyThrAspIleArgCys                              190195200205                                                                   TGTGCTAGAAATGCACTGGGCCGCGAATGCACCAAGCTGTTCACCATA774                            CysAlaArgAsnAlaLeuGly ArgGluCysThrLysLeuPheThrIle                              210215220                                                                      GATCTAAACCAGGCTCCTCAGAGCACACTGCCCCAGTTATTCCTGAAA822                            AspLeuAsnGlnAlaProGln SerThrLeuProGlnLeuPheLeuLys                              225230235                                                                      GTGGGGGAACCCTTGTGGATCAGGTGTAAGGCCATCCATGTGAACCAT870                            ValGlyGluProLeuTrpIleArgC ysLysAlaIleHisValAsnHis                              240245250                                                                      GGATTCGGGCTCACCTGGGAGCTGGAAGACAAAGCCCTGGAGGAGGGC918                            GlyPheGlyLeuThrTrpGluLeuGluAspLy sAlaLeuGluGluGly                              255260265                                                                      AGCTACTTTGAGATGAGTACCTACTCCACAAACAGGACCATGATTCGG966                            SerTyrPheGluMetSerThrTyrSerThrAsnArgThrMet IleArg                              270275280285                                                                   ATTCTCTTGGCCTTTGTGTCTTCCGTGGGAAGGAACGACACCGGATAT1014                           IleLeuLeuAlaPheValSerSerValGlyArgAsnAsp ThrGlyTyr                              290295300                                                                      TACACCTGCTCTTCCTCAAAGCACCCCAGCCAGTCAGCGTTGGTGACC1062                           TyrThrCysSerSerSerLysHisProSerGlnSerAlaL euValThr                              305310315                                                                      ATCCTAGAAAAAGGGTTTATAAACGCTACCAGCTCGCAAGAAGAGTAT1110                           IleLeuGluLysGlyPheIleAsnAlaThrSerSerGlnGluGl uTyr                              320325330                                                                      GAAATTGACCCGTACGAAAAGTTCTGCTTCTCAGTCAGGTTTAAAGCG1158                           GluIleAspProTyrGluLysPheCysPheSerValArgPheLysAla                                335340345                                                                     TACCCACGAATCCGATGCACGTGGATCTTCTCTCAAGCCTCATTTCCT1206                           TyrProArgIleArgCysThrTrpIlePheSerGlnAlaSerPhePro                               350 355360365                                                                  TGTGAACAGAGAGGCCTGGAGGATGGGTACAGCATATCTAAATTTTGC1254                           CysGluGlnArgGlyLeuGluAspGlyTyrSerIleSerLysPheCys                                370375380                                                                     GATCATAAGAACAAGCCAGGAGAGTACATATTCTATGCAGAAAATGAT1302                           AspHisLysAsnLysProGlyGluTyrIlePheTyrAlaGluAsnAsp                               3 85390395                                                                     GACGCCCAGTTCACCAAAATGTTCACGCTGAATATAAGAAAGAAACCT1350                           AspAlaGlnPheThrLysMetPheThrLeuAsnIleArgLysLysPro                               400 405410                                                                     CAAGTGCTAGCAAATGCCTCAGCCAGCCAGGCGTCCTGTTCCTCTGAT1398                           GlnValLeuAlaAsnAlaSerAlaSerGlnAlaSerCysSerSerAsp                               415420 425                                                                     GGCTACCCGCTACCCTCTTGGACCTGGAAGAAGTGTTCGGACAAATCT1446                           GlyTyrProLeuProSerTrpThrTrpLysLysCysSerAspLysSer                               430435 440445                                                                  CCCAATTGCACGGAGGAAATCCCAGAAGGAGTTTGGAATAAAAAGGCT1494                           ProAsnCysThrGluGluIleProGluGlyValTrpAsnLysLysAla                               4504 55460                                                                     AACAGAAAAGTGTTTGGCCAGTGGGTGTCGAGCAGTACTCTAAATATG1542                           AsnArgLysValPheGlyGlnTrpValSerSerSerThrLeuAsnMet                               465470 475                                                                     AGTGAGGCCGGGAAAGGGCTTCTGGTCAAATGCTGTGCGTACAATTCT1590                           SerGluAlaGlyLysGlyLeuLeuValLysCysCysAlaTyrAsnSer                               480485 490                                                                     ATGGGCACGTCTTGCGAAACCATCTTTTTAAACTCACCAGGCCCCTTC1638                           MetGlyThrSerCysGluThrIlePheLeuAsnSerProGlyProPhe                               495500505                                                                      CC TTTCATCCAAGACAACATCTCCTTCTATGCGACCATTGGGCTCTGT1686                          ProPheIleGlnAspAsnIleSerPheTyrAlaThrIleGlyLeuCys                               510515520525                                                                    CTCCCCTTCATTGTTGTTCTCATTGTGTTGATCTGCCACAAATACAAA1734                          LeuProPheIleValValLeuIleValLeuIleCysHisLysTyrLys                               530535540                                                                       AAGCAATTTAGGTACGAGAGTCAGCTGCAGATGATCCAGGTGACTGGC1782                          LysGlnPheArgTyrGluSerGlnLeuGlnMetIleGlnValThrGly                               545550555                                                                      CCCC TGGATAACGAGTACTTCTACGTTGACTTCAGGGACTATGAATAT1830                          ProLeuAspAsnGluTyrPheTyrValAspPheArgAspTyrGluTyr                               560565570                                                                      GACCTTAAGTG GGAGTTCCCGAGAGAGAACTTAGAGTTTGGGAAGGTC1878                          AspLeuLysTrpGluPheProArgGluAsnLeuGluPheGlyLysVal                               575580585                                                                      CTGGGGTCTGGCGCTTTCGGG AGGGTGATGAACGCCACGGCCTATGGC1926                          LeuGlySerGlyAlaPheGlyArgValMetAsnAlaThrAlaTyrGly                               590595600605                                                                   ATTAGTAAAACGGGAGTC TCAATTCAGGTGGCGGTGAAGATGCTAAAA1974                          IleSerLysThrGlyValSerIleGlnValAlaValLysMetLeuLys                               610615620                                                                      GAGAAAGCTGACAGCTGTG AAAAAGAAGCTCTCATGTCGGAGCTCAAA2022                          GluLysAlaAspSerCysGluLysGluAlaLeuMetSerGluLeuLys                               625630635                                                                      ATGATGACCCACCTGGGACACCA TGACAACATCGTGAATCTGCTGGGG2070                          MetMetThrHisLeuGlyHisHisAspAsnIleValAsnLeuLeuGly                               640645650                                                                      GCATGCACACTGTCAGGGCCAGTGTACTTG ATTTTTGAATATTGTTGC2118                          AlaCysThrLeuSerGlyProValTyrLeuIlePheGluTyrCysCys                               655660665                                                                      TATGGTGACCTCCTCAACTACCTAAGAAGTAAAAGAGAG AAGTTTCAC2166                          TyrGlyAspLeuLeuAsnTyrLeuArgSerLysArgGluLysPheHis                               670675680685                                                                   AGGACATGGACAGAGATTTTTAAGGAACATAATTTCA GTTCTTACCCT2214                          ArgThrTrpThrGluIlePheLysGluHisAsnPheSerSerTyrPro                               690695700                                                                      ACTTTCCAGGCACATTCAAATTCCAGCATGCCTGGTTC ACGAGAAGTT2262                          ThrPheGlnAlaHisSerAsnSerSerMetProGlySerArgGluVal                               705710715                                                                      CAGTTACACCCGCCCTTGGATCAGCTCTCAGGGTTCAATGGG AATTCA2310                          GlnLeuHisProProLeuAspGlnLeuSerGlyPheAsnGlyAsnSer                               720725730                                                                      ATTCATTCTGAAGATGAGATTGAATATGAAAACCAGAAGAGGCTGGCA 2358                          IleHisSerGluAspGluIleGluTyrGluAsnGlnLysArgLeuAla                               735740745                                                                      GAAGAAGAGGAGGAAGATTTGAACGTGCTGACGTTTGAAGACCTCCTT2406                           GluG luGluGluGluAspLeuAsnValLeuThrPheGluAspLeuLeu                              750755760765                                                                   TGCTTTGCGTACCAAGTGGCCAAAGGCATGGAATTCCTGGAGTTCAAG2454                           Cy sPheAlaTyrGlnValAlaLysGlyMetGluPheLeuGluPheLys                              770775780                                                                      TCGTGTGTCCACAGAGACCTGGCAGCCAGGAATGTGTTGGTCACCCAC2502                           Ser CysValHisArgAspLeuAlaAlaArgAsnValLeuValThrHis                              785790795                                                                      GGGAAGGTGGTGAAGATCTGTGACTTTGGACTGGCCCGAGACATCCTG2550                           GlyLysValVal LysIleCysAspPheGlyLeuAlaArgAspIleLeu                              800805810                                                                      AGCGACTCCAGCTACGTCGTCAGGGGCAACGCACGGCTGCCGGTGAAG2598                           SerAspSerSerTyrValV alArgGlyAsnAlaArgLeuProValLys                              815820825                                                                      TGGATGGCACCCGAGAGCTTATTTGAAGGGATCTACACAATCAAGAGT2646                           TrpMetAlaProGluSerLeuPheGluGl yIleTyrThrIleLysSer                              830835840845                                                                   GACGTCTGGTCCTACGGCATCCTTCTCTGGGAGATATTTTCACTGGGT2694                           AspValTrpSerTyrGlyIleLeuLeu TrpGluIlePheSerLeuGly                              850855860                                                                      GTGAACCCTTACCCTGGCATTCCTGTCGACGCTAACTTCTATAAACTG2742                           ValAsnProTyrProGlyIleProVal AspAlaAsnPheTyrLysLeu                              865870875                                                                      ATTCAGAGTGGATTTAAAATGGAGCAGCCATTCTATGCCACAGAAGGG2790                           IleGlnSerGlyPheLysMetGluGlnProP heTyrAlaThrGluGly                              880885890                                                                      ATATACTTTGTAATGCAATCCTGCTGGGCTTTTGACTCAAGGAAGCGG2838                           IleTyrPheValMetGlnSerCysTrpAlaPheAspSe rArgLysArg                              895900905                                                                      CCATCCTTCCCCAACCTGACTTCATTTTTAGGATGTCAGCTGGCAGAG2886                           ProSerPheProAsnLeuThrSerPheLeuGlyCysGlnLeuAlaGlu                               910915920925                                                                   GCAGAAGAAGCATGTATCAGAACATCCATCCATCTACCAAAACAGGCG2934                           AlaGluGluAlaCysIleArgThrSerIleHisLeuProLysGln Ala                              930935940                                                                      GCCCCTCAGCAGAGAGGCGGGCTCAGAGCCCAGTCGCCACAGCGCCAG2982                           AlaProGlnGlnArgGlyGlyLeuArgAlaGlnSerProGlnArgG ln                              945950955                                                                      GTGAAGATTCACAGAGAAAGAAGTTAGCGAGGAGGCCTTGGACCCCGCCACCCT3036                     ValLysIleHisArgGluArgSer                                                       960965                                                                          AGCAGGCTGTAGACCGCAGAGCCAAGATTAGCCTCGCCTCTGAGGAAGCGCCCTACAGCG3096              CGTTGCTTCGCTGGACTTTTCTCTAGATGCTGTCTGCCATTACTCCAAAGTGACTTCTAT3156               AAAATCAAACCTCTCCTCGCACAGGCGGGAGAGCCAATAATGAGACTTG TTGGTGAGCCC3216              GCCTACCCTGGGGGCCTTTCCACGAGCTTGAGGGGAAAGCCATGTATCTGAAATATAGTA3276               TATTCTTGTAAATACGTGAAACAAACCAAACCCGTTTTTTGCTAAGGGAAAGCTAAATAT3336               GATTTTTAAAAATCTATGTTTTAAAATACTA TGTAACTTTTTCATCTATTTAGTGATATA3396              TTTTATGGATGGAAATAAACTTTCTACTGTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA3453                  (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 992 amino acids                                                    (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D ) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                          (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:                                        MetArgAlaLeuAlaGlnArgSerAspArgArgLeuLeuLeuLeuVal                               27-25-20-15                                                                    ValLeuSerValMetIleLeuGluThrVa lThrAsnGlnAspLeuPro                              10- 515                                                                        ValIleLysCysValLeuIleSerHisGluAsnAsnGlySerSerAla                               1015 20                                                                        GlyLysProSerSerTyrArgMetValArgGlySerProGluAspLeu                               253035                                                                         GlnCysThrProArgArgGlnSerGluGlyThrValTyrGluA laAla                              404550                                                                         ThrValGluValAlaGluSerGlySerIleThrLeuGlnValGlnLeu                               556065                                                                         AlaThrProGlyAspLeu SerCysLeuTrpValPheLysHisSerSer                              70758085                                                                       LeuGlyCysGlnProHisPheAspLeuGlnAsnArgGlyIleValSer                               90 95100                                                                       MetAlaIleLeuAsnValThrGluThrGlnAlaGlyGluTyrLeuLeu                               105110115                                                                      HisIleGlnSerGluArgAlaAsnTyrThrVa lLeuPheThrValAsn                              120125130                                                                      ValArgAspThrGlnLeuTyrValLeuArgArgProTyrPheArgLys                               135140145                                                                      MetGlu AsnGlnAspAlaLeuLeuCysIleSerGluGlyValProGlu                              150155160165                                                                   ProThrValGluTrpValLeuCysSerSerHisArgGluSerCysLys                                170175180                                                                     GluGluGlyProAlaValValArgLysGluGluLysValLeuHisGlu                               185190195                                                                      LeuPheGlyThrAspIleArg CysCysAlaArgAsnAlaLeuGlyArg                              200205210                                                                      GluCysThrLysLeuPheThrIleAspLeuAsnGlnAlaProGlnSer                               215220 225                                                                     ThrLeuProGlnLeuPheLeuLysValGlyGluProLeuTrpIleArg                               230235240245                                                                   CysLysAlaIleHisValAsnHisGlyPheGlyLeuThrTrpGluLe u                              250255260                                                                      GluAspLysAlaLeuGluGluGlySerTyrPheGluMetSerThrTyr                               265270275                                                                      SerThrAsn ArgThrMetIleArgIleLeuLeuAlaPheValSerSer                              280285290                                                                      ValGlyArgAsnAspThrGlyTyrTyrThrCysSerSerSerLysHis                               295300 305                                                                     ProSerGlnSerAlaLeuValThrIleLeuGluLysGlyPheIleAsn                               310315320325                                                                   AlaThrSerSerGlnGluGluTyrGluIleAspPro TyrGluLysPhe                              330335340                                                                      CysPheSerValArgPheLysAlaTyrProArgIleArgCysThrTrp                               345350355                                                                      IlePheSerGlnAlaSerPheProCysGluGlnArgGlyLeuGluAsp                               360365370                                                                      GlyTyrSerIleSerLysPheCysAspHisLysAsnLysProGlyGlu                               375 380385                                                                     TyrIlePheTyrAlaGluAsnAspAspAlaGlnPheThrLysMetPhe                               390395400405                                                                   ThrLeuAsnIleArgLysLysPro GlnValLeuAlaAsnAlaSerAla                              410415420                                                                      SerGlnAlaSerCysSerSerAspGlyTyrProLeuProSerTrpThr                               425430 435                                                                     TrpLysLysCysSerAspLysSerProAsnCysThrGluGluIlePro                               440445450                                                                      GluGlyValTrpAsnLysLysAlaAsnArgLysValPheGlyGlnTrp                               455460465                                                                      ValSerSerSerThrLeuAsnMetSerGluAlaGlyLysGlyLeuLeu                               470475480485                                                                   ValLysCysCysA laTyrAsnSerMetGlyThrSerCysGluThrIle                              490495500                                                                      PheLeuAsnSerProGlyProPheProPheIleGlnAspAsnIleSer                               505 510515                                                                     PheTyrAlaThrIleGlyLeuCysLeuProPheIleValValLeuIle                               520525530                                                                      ValLeuIleCysHisLysTyrLysLysGlnPheArg TyrGluSerGln                              535540545                                                                      LeuGlnMetIleGlnValThrGlyProLeuAspAsnGluTyrPheTyr                               550555560565                                                                   Va lAspPheArgAspTyrGluTyrAspLeuLysTrpGluPheProArg                              570575580                                                                      GluAsnLeuGluPheGlyLysValLeuGlySerGlyAlaPheGlyArg                                585590595                                                                     ValMetAsnAlaThrAlaTyrGlyIleSerLysThrGlyValSerIle                               600605610                                                                      GlnValAlaValLysMetLeuLysG luLysAlaAspSerCysGluLys                              615620625                                                                      GluAlaLeuMetSerGluLeuLysMetMetThrHisLeuGlyHisHis                               630635640 645                                                                  AspAsnIleValAsnLeuLeuGlyAlaCysThrLeuSerGlyProVal                               650655660                                                                      TyrLeuIlePheGluTyrCysCysTyrGlyAspLeuLeuAsnTyr Leu                              665670675                                                                      ArgSerLysArgGluLysPheHisArgThrTrpThrGluIlePheLys                               680685690                                                                      GluHisAsnPheSe rSerTyrProThrPheGlnAlaHisSerAsnSer                              695700705                                                                      SerMetProGlySerArgGluValGlnLeuHisProProLeuAspGln                               710715 720725                                                                  LeuSerGlyPheAsnGlyAsnSerIleHisSerGluAspGluIleGlu                               730735740                                                                      TyrGluAsnGlnLysArgLeuAlaGluGluGluG luGluAspLeuAsn                              745750755                                                                      ValLeuThrPheGluAspLeuLeuCysPheAlaTyrGlnValAlaLys                               760765770                                                                      Gly MetGluPheLeuGluPheLysSerCysValHisArgAspLeuAla                              775780785                                                                      AlaArgAsnValLeuValThrHisGlyLysValValLysIleCysAsp                               790795 800805                                                                  PheGlyLeuAlaArgAspIleLeuSerAspSerSerTyrValValArg                               810815820                                                                      GlyAsnAlaArgLeuProValL ysTrpMetAlaProGluSerLeuPhe                              825830835                                                                      GluGlyIleTyrThrIleLysSerAspValTrpSerTyrGlyIleLeu                               840845 850                                                                     LeuTrpGluIlePheSerLeuGlyValAsnProTyrProGlyIlePro                               855860865                                                                      ValAspAlaAsnPheTyrLysLeuIleGlnSerGlyPheLysMetGlu                               870 875880885                                                                  GlnProPheTyrAlaThrGluGlyIleTyrPheValMetGlnSerCys                               890895900                                                                      TrpAlaPheAs pSerArgLysArgProSerPheProAsnLeuThrSer                              905910915                                                                      PheLeuGlyCysGlnLeuAlaGluAlaGluGluAlaCysIleArgThr                               920 925930                                                                     SerIleHisLeuProLysGlnAlaAlaProGlnGlnArgGlyGlyLeu                               935940945                                                                      ArgAlaGlnSerProGlnArgGlnValLysIleHisArgGluA rgSer                              950955960965                                                                   (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 3501 base pairs                                                    (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                                       (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                          (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO                                                           (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: N-terminal                                                  (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 58..3039                                                         (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: matpeptide                                                       (B) LOCATION: 139..3036                                                        (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: sigpeptide                                                       (B) LOCATION: 58..138                                                          (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3:                                        CGAGGCGGCATCCGAGGGC TGGGCCGGCGCCCTGGGGGACCCCGGGCTCCGGAGGCC57                   ATGCCGGCGTTGGCGCGCGACGCGGGCACCGTGCCGCTGCTCGTTGTT105                            MetProAlaLeuAlaArgAspAlaGlyThrValProLeuLeuValVal                               27-2 5-20-15                                                                   TTTTCTGCAATGATATTTGGGACTATTACAAATCAAGATCTGCCTGTG153                            PheSerAlaMetIlePheGlyThrIleThrAsnGlnAspLeuProVal                               10 - 515                                                                       ATCAAGTGTGTTTTAATCAATCATAAGAACAATGATTCATCAGTGGGG201                            IleLysCysValLeuIleAsnHisLysAsnAsnAspSerSerValGly                                101520                                                                        AAGTCATCATCATATCCCATGGTATKAGAATCCCCGGAAGACCTCGGG249                            LysSerSerSerTyrProMetValSerGluSerProGluAspLeuGly                               25 3035                                                                        TGTGCGTTGAGACCCCAGAGCTCAGGGACAGTGTACGAAGCTGCCGCT297                            CysAlaLeuArgProGlnSerSerGlyThrValTyrGluAlaAlaAla                               40 4550                                                                        GTGGAAGTGGATGTATCTGCTTCCATCACACTGCAAGTGCTGGTCGAT345                            ValGluValAspValSerAlaSerIleThrLeuGlnValLeuValAsp                               5560 65                                                                        GCCCCAGGGAACATTTCCTGTCTCTGGGTCTTTAAGCACAGCTCCCTG393                            AlaProGlyAsnIleSerCysLeuTrpValPheLysHisSerSerLeu                               707580 85                                                                      AATTGCCAGCCACATTTTGATTTACAAAACAGAGGAGTTGTTTCCATG441                            AsnCysGlnProHisPheAspLeuGlnAsnArgGlyValValSerMet                               9095 100                                                                       GTCATTTTGAAAATGACAGAAACCCAAGCTGGAGAATACCTACTTTTT489                            ValIleLeuLysMetThrGluThrGlnAlaGlyGluTyrLeuLeuPhe                               105110 115                                                                     ATTCAGAGTGAAGCTACCAATTACACAATATTGTTTACAGTGAGTATA537                            IleGlnSerGluAlaThrAsnTyrThrIleLeuPheThrValSerIle                               120125 130                                                                     AGAAATACCCTGCTTTACACATTAAGAAGACCTTACTTTAGAAAAATG585                            ArgAsnThrLeuLeuTyrThrLeuArgArgProTyrPheArgLysMet                               135140145                                                                      GAAA ACCAGGACGCCCTGGTCTGCATATCTGAGAGCGTTCCAGAGCCG633                           GluAsnGlnAspAlaLeuValCysIleSerGluSerValProGluPro                               150155160165                                                                   AT CGTGGAATGGGTGCTTTGCGATTCACAGGGGGAAAGCTGTAAAGAA681                           IleValGluTrpValLeuCysAspSerGlnGlyGluSerCysLysGlu                               170175180                                                                      GAA AGTCCAGCTGTTGTTAAAAAGGAGGAAAAAGTGCTTCATGAATTA729                           GluSerProAlaValValLysLysGluGluLysValLeuHisGluLeu                               185190195                                                                      TTTGGG ACGGACATAAGGTGCTGTGCCAGAAATGAACTGGGCAGGGAA777                           PheGlyThrAspIleArgCysCysAlaArgAsnGluLeuGlyArgGlu                               200205210                                                                      TGCACCAGGCTGT TCACAATAGATCTAAATCAAACTCCTCAGACCACA825                           CysThrArgLeuPheThrIleAspLeuAsnGlnThrProGlnThrThr                               215220225                                                                      TTGCCACAATTATTTCTTAAAGT AGGGGAACCCTTATGGATAAGGTGC873                           LeuProGlnLeuPheLeuLysValGlyGluProLeuTrpIleArgCys                               230235240245                                                                   AAAGCTGTTCATGTGAACCAT GGATTCGGGCTCACCTGGGAATTAGAA921                           LysAlaValHisValAsnHisGlyPheGlyLeuThrTrpGluLeuGlu                               250255260                                                                      AACAAAGCACTCGAGGAGGGC AACTACTTTGAGATGAGTACCTATTCA969                           AsnLysAlaLeuGluGluGlyAsnTyrPheGluMetSerThrTyrSer                               265270275                                                                      ACAAACAGAACTATGATACGGATTC TGTTTGCTTTTGTATCATCAGTG1017                          ThrAsnArgThrMetIleArgIleLeuPheAlaPheValSerSerVal                               280285290                                                                      GCAAGAAACGACACCGGATACTACACTTGTTC CTCTTCAAAGCATCCC1065                          AlaArgAsnAspThrGlyTyrTyrThrCysSerSerSerLysHisPro                               295300305                                                                      AGTCAATCAGCTTTGGTTACCATCGTAGGAAAGGGATTTATA AATGCT1113                          SerGlnSerAlaLeuValThrIleValGlyLysGlyPheIleAsnAla                               310315320325                                                                   ACCAATTCAAGTGAAGATTATGAAATTGACCAATATGAA GAGTTTTGT1161                          ThrAsnSerSerGluAspTyrGluIleAspGlnTyrGluGluPheCys                               330335340                                                                      TTTTCTGTCAGGTTTAAAGCCTACCCACAAATCAGATGTA CGTGGACC1209                          PheSerValArgPheLysAlaTyrProGlnIleArgCysThrTrpThr                               345350355                                                                      TTCTCTCGAAAATCATTTCCTTGTGAGCAAAAGGGTCTTGATAA CGGA1257                          PheSerArgLysSerPheProCysGluGlnLysGlyLeuAspAsnGly                               360365370                                                                      TACAGCATATCCAAGTTTTGCAATCATAAGCACCAGCCAGGAGAATAT1 305                          TyrSerIleSerLysPheCysAsnHisLysHisGlnProGlyGluTyr                               375380385                                                                      ATATTCCATGCAGAAAATGATGATGCCCAATTTACCAAAATGTTCACG1353                           IlePhe HisAlaGluAsnAspAspAlaGlnPheThrLysMetPheThr                              390395400405                                                                   CTGAATATAAGAAGGAAACCTCAAGTGCTCGCAGAAGCATCGGCAAGT1401                           LeuA snIleArgArgLysProGlnValLeuAlaGluAlaSerAlaSer                              410415420                                                                      CAGGCGTCCTGTTTCTCGGATGGATACCCATTACCATCTTGGACCTGG1449                           GlnAl aSerCysPheSerAspGlyTyrProLeuProSerTrpThrTrp                              425430435                                                                      AAGAAGTGTTCAGACAAGTCTCCCAACTGCACAGAAGAGATCACAGAA1497                           LysLysCys SerAspLysSerProAsnCysThrGluGluIleThrGlu                              440445450                                                                      GGAGTCTGGAATAGAAAGGCTAACAGAAAAGTGTTTGGACAGTGGGTG1545                           GlyValTrpAsnArg LysAlaAsnArgLysValPheGlyGlnTrpVal                              455460465                                                                      TCGAGCAGTACTCTAAACATGAGTGAAGCCATAAAAGGGTTCCTGGTC1593                           SerSerSerThrLeuAsnMetSerG luAlaIleLysGlyPheLeuVal                              470475480485                                                                   AAGTGCTGTGCATACAATTCCCTTGGCACATCTTGTGAGACGATCCTT1641                           LysCysCysAlaTyrAsnSerLe uGlyThrSerCysGluThrIleLeu                              490495500                                                                      TTAAACTCTCCAGGCCCCTTCCCTTTCATCCAAGACAACATCTCATTC1689                           LeuAsnSerProGlyProPhePro PheIleGinAspAsnIleSerPhe                              505510515                                                                      TATGCAACAATTGGTGTTTGTCTCCTCTTCATTGTCGTTTTAACCCTG1737                           TyrAlaThrIleGlyValCysLeuLeu PheIleValValLeuThrLeu                              520525530                                                                      CTAATTTGTCACAAGTACAAAAAGCAATTTAGGTATGAAAGCCAGCTA1785                           LeuIleCysHisLysTyrLysLysGlnPheArgT yrGluSerGlnLeu                              535540545                                                                      CAGATGGTACAGGTGACCGGCTCCTCAGATAATGAGTACTTCTACGTT1833                           GlnMetValGlnValThrGlySerSerAspAsnGluTyrPheTy rVal                              550555560565                                                                   GATTTCAGAGAATATGAATATGATCTCAAATGGGAGTTTCCAAGAGAA1881                           AspPheArgGluTyrGluTyrAspLeuLysTrpGluPhePro ArgGlu                              570575580                                                                      AATTTAGAGTTTGGGAAGGTACTAGGATCAGGTGCTTTTGGAAAAGTG1929                           AsnLeuGluPheGlyLysValLeuGlySerGlyAlaPheGly LysVal                              585590595                                                                      ATGAACGCAACAGCTTATGGAATTAGCAAAACAGGAGTCTCAATCCAG1977                           MetAsnAlaThrAlaTyrGlyIleSerLysThrGlyValSerIleG ln                              600605610                                                                      GTTGCCGTCAAAATGCTGAAAGAAAAAGCAGACAGCTCTGAAAGAGAG2025                           ValAlaValLysMetLeuLysGluLysAlaAspSerSerGluArgGlu                               6 15620625                                                                     GCACTCATGTCAGAACTCAAGATGATGACCCAGCTGGGAAGCCACGAG2073                           AlaLeuMetSerGluLeuLysMetMetThrGlnLeuGlySerHisGlu                               630 635640645                                                                  AATATTGTGAACCTGCTGGGGGCGTGCACACTGTCAGGACCAATTTAC2121                           AsnIleValAsnLeuLeuGlyAlaCysThrLeuSerGlyProIleTyr                                650655660                                                                     TTGATTTTTGAATACTGTTGCTATGGTGATCTTCTCAACTATCTAAGA2169                           LeuIlePheGluTyrCysCysTyrGlyAspLeuLeuAsnTyrLeuArg                               665 670675                                                                     AGTAAAAGAGAAAAATTTCACAGGACTTGGACAGAGATTTTCAAGGAA2217                           SerLysArgGluLysPheHisArgThrTrpThrGluIlePheLysGlu                               680 685690                                                                     CACAATTTCAGTTTTTACCCCACTTTCCAATCACATCCAAATTCCAGC2265                           HisAsnPheSerPheTyrProThrPheGlnSerHisProAsnSerSer                               695700 705                                                                     ATGCCTGGTTCAAGAGAAGTTCAGATACACCCGGACTCGGATCAAATC2313                           MetProGlySerArgGluValGlnIleHisProAspSerAspGlnIle                               710715720 725                                                                  TCAGGGCTTCATGGGAATTCATTTCACTCTGAAGATGAAATTGAATAT2361                           SerGlyLeuHisGlyAsnSerPheHisSerGluAspGluIleGluTyr                               730735 740                                                                     GAAAACCAAAAAAGGCTGGAAGAAGAGGAGGACTTGAATGTGCTTACA2409                           GluAsnGlnLysArgLeuGluGluGluGluAspLeuAsnValLeuThr                               745750 755                                                                     TTTGAAGATCTTCTTTGCTTTGCATATCAAGTTGCCAAAGGAATGGAA2457                           PheGluAspLeuLeuCysPheAlaTyrGlnValAlaLysGlyMetGlu                               760765 770                                                                     TTTCTGGAATTTAAGTCGTGTGTTCACAGAGACCTGGCCGCCAGGAAC2505                           PheLeuGluPheLysSerCysValHisArgAspLeuAlaAlaArgAsn                               775780785                                                                      GTGC TTGTCACCCACGGGAAAGTGGTGAAGATATGTGACTTTGGATTG2553                          ValLeuValThrHisGlyLysValValLysIleCysAspPheGlyLeu                               790795800805                                                                   GC TCGAGATATCATGAGTGATTCCAACTATGTTGTCAGGGGCAATGCC2601                          AlaArgAspIleMetSerAspSerAsnTyrValValArgGlyAsnAla                               810815820                                                                      CGT CTGCCTGTAAAATGGATGGCCCCCGAAAGCCTGTTTGAAGGCATC2649                          ArgLeuProValLysTrpMetAlaProGluSerLeuPheGluGlyIle                               825830835                                                                      TACACC ATTAAGAGTGATGTCTGGTCATATGGAATATTACTGTGGGAA2697                          TyrThrIleLysSerAspValTrpSerTyrGlyIleLeuLeuTrpGlu                               840845850                                                                      ATCTTCTCACTTG GTGTGAATCCTTACCCTGGCATTCCGGTTGATGCT2745                          IlePheSerLeuGlyValAsnProTyrProGlyIleProValAspAla                               855860865                                                                      AACTTCTACAAACTGATTCAAAA TGGATTTAAAATGGATCAGCCATTT2793                          AsnPheTyrLysLeuIleGlnAsnGlyPheLysMetAspGlnProPhe                               870875880885                                                                   TATGCTACAGAAGAAATATAC ATTATAATGCAATCCTGCTGGGCTTTT2841                          TyrAlaThrGluGluIleTyrIleIleMetGlnSerCysTrpAlaPhe                               890895900                                                                      GACTCAAGGAAACGGCCATCC TTCCCTAATTTGACTTCGTTTTTAGGA2889                          AspSerArgLysArgProSerPheProAsnLeuThrSerPheLeuGly                               905910915                                                                      TGTCAGCTGGCAGATGCAGAAGAAG CGATGTATCAGAATGTGGATGGC2937                          CysGlnLeuAlaAspAlaGluGluAlaMetTyrGlnAsnValAspGly                               920925930                                                                      CGTGTTTCGGAATGTCCTCACACCTACCAAAA CAGGCGACCTTTCAGC2985                          ArgValSerGluCysProHisThrTyrGlnAsnArgArgProPheSer                               935940945                                                                      AGAGAGATGGATTTGGGGCTACTCTCTCCGCAGGCTCAGGTC GAAGAT3033                          ArgGluMetAspLeuGlyLeuLeuSerProGlnAlaGlnValGluAsp                               950955960965                                                                   TCGTAGAGGAACAATTTAGTTTTAAGGACTTCATCCCTCCACCTATC CCTAAC3086                     Ser                                                                            AGGCTGTAGATTACCAAAACAAGATTAATTTCATCACTAAAAGAAAATCTATTATCAACT3146               GCTGCTTCACCAGACTTTTCTCTAGAAGCCGTCTGCGTTTACTCTTGTTTTCAAAGGGAC3206               TTTTGTAAAATCAAATCATCCTGTCA CAAGGCAGGAGGAGCTGATAATGAACTTTATTGG3266              AGCATTGATCTGCATCCAAGGCCTTCTCAGGCCGGCTTGAGTGAATTGTGTACCTGAAGT3326               ACAGTATATTCTTGTAAATACATAAAACAAAAGCATTTTGCTAAGGAGAAGCTAATATGA3386               TTTTTTAAG TCTATGTTTTAAAATAATATGTAAATTTTTCAGCTATTTAGTGATATATTT3446              TATGGGTGGGAATAAAATTTCTACTACAGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA3501                    (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 993 amino acids                                                    ( B) TYPE: amino acid                                                          (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4:                                        MetProAlaLeuAlaArgAspAlaGlyThrValProLeuLeuValVal                               27-25-20-15                                                                    PheSerAlaMetI lePheGlyThrIleThrAsnGlnAspLeuProVal                              10- 515                                                                        IleLysCysValLeuIleAsnHisLysAsnAsnAspSerSerValGly                               10 1520                                                                        LysSerSerSerTyrProMetValSerGluSerProGluAspLeuGly                               253035                                                                         CysAlaLeuArgProGlnSerSerGly ThrValTyrGluAlaAlaAla                              404550                                                                         ValGluValAspValSerAlaSerIleThrLeuGlnValLeuValAsp                               556065                                                                         A laProGlyAsnIleSerCysLeuTrpValPheLysHisSerSerLeu                              70758085                                                                       AsnCysGlnProHisPheAspLeuGlnAsnArgGlyValValSerMet                                9095100                                                                       ValIleLeuLysMetThrGluThrGlnAlaGlyGluTyrLeuLeuPhe                               105110115                                                                      IleGlnSerGluAla ThrAsnTyrThrIleLeuPheThrValSerIle                              120125130                                                                      ArgAsnThrLeuLeuTyrThrLeuArgArgProTyrPheArgLysMet                               135140 145                                                                     GluAsnGlnAspAlaLeuValCysIleSerGluSerValProGluPro                               150155160165                                                                   IleValGluTrpValLeuCysAspSerGlnGlyGluSerCy sLysGlu                              170175180                                                                      GluSerProAlaValValLysLysGluGluLysValLeuHisGluLeu                               185190195                                                                      Phe GlyThrAspIleArgCysCysAlaArgAsnGluLeuGlyArgGlu                              200205210                                                                      CysThrArgLeuPheThrIleAspLeuAsnGlnThrProGlnThrThr                               215 220225                                                                     LeuProGlnLeuPheLeuLysValGlyGluProLeuTrpIleArgCys                               230235240245                                                                   LysAlaValHisValAsnHisGlyPheGly LeuThrTrpGluLeuGlu                              250255260                                                                      AsnLysAlaLeuGluGluGlyAsnTyrPheGluMetSerThrTyrSer                               265270 275                                                                     ThrAsnArgThrMetIleArgIleLeuPheAlaPheValSerSerVal                               280285290                                                                      AlaArgAsnAspThrGlyTyrTyrThrCysSerSerSerLysHisPro                               2 95300305                                                                     SerGlnSerAlaLeuValThrIleValGlyLysGlyPheIleAsnAla                               310315320325                                                                   ThrAsnSerSerGluAsp TyrGluIleAspGlnTyrGluGluPheCys                              330335340                                                                      PheSerValArgPheLysAlaTyrProGlnIleArgCysThrTrpThr                               345 350355                                                                     PheSerArgLysSerPheProCysGluGlnLysGlyLeuAspAsnGly                               360365370                                                                      TyrSerIleSerLysPheCysAsnHisLysHisGlnProGly GluTyr                              375380385                                                                      IlePheHisAlaGluAsnAspAspAlaGlnPheThrLysMetPheThr                               390395400405                                                                   LeuAsnI leArgArgLysProGlnValLeuAlaGluAlaSerAlaSer                              410415420                                                                      GlnAlaSerCysPheSerAspGlyTyrProLeuProSerTrpThrTrp                               425 430435                                                                     LysLysCysSerAspLysSerProAsnCysThrGluGluIleThrGlu                               440445450                                                                      GlyValTrpAsnArgLysAlaAsnArgLys ValPheGlyGlnTrpVal                              455460465                                                                      SerSerSerThrLeuAsnMetSerGluAlaIleLysGlyPheLeuVal                               470475480 485                                                                  LysCysCysAlaTyrAsnSerLeuGlyThrSerCysGluThrIleLeu                               490495500                                                                      LeuAsnSerProGlyProPheProPheIleGlnAspAsnIleSerPhe                                505510515                                                                     TyrAlaThrIleGlyValCysLeuLeuPheIleValValLeuThrLeu                               520525530                                                                      LeuIleCysHisLysTyrL ysLysGlnPheArgTyrGluSerGlnLeu                              535540545                                                                      GlnMetValGlnValThrGlySerSerAspAsnGluTyrPheTyrVal                               550555560 565                                                                  AspPheArgGluTyrGluTyrAspLeuLysTrpGluPheProArgGlu                               570575580                                                                      AsnLeuGluPheGlyLysValLeuGlySerGlyAlaPhe GlyLysVal                              585590595                                                                      MetAsnAlaThrAlaTyrGlyIleSerLysThrGlyValSerIleGln                               600605610                                                                      ValAlaVa lLysMetLeuLysGluLysAlaAspSerSerGluArgGlu                              615620625                                                                      AlaLeuMetSerGluLeuLysMetMetThrGlnLeuGlySerHisGlu                               630635 640645                                                                  AsnIleValAsnLeuLeuGlyAlaCysThrLeuSerGlyProIleTyr                               650655660                                                                      LeuIlePheGluTyrCysCysTyrGly AspLeuLeuAsnTyrLeuArg                              665670675                                                                      SerLysArgGluLysPheHisArgThrTrpThrGluIlePheLysGlu                               680685 690                                                                     HisAsnPheSerPheTyrProThrPheGlnSerHisProAsnSerSer                               695700705                                                                      MetProGlySerArgGluValGlnIleHisProAspSerAspGlnIle                               710 715720725                                                                  SerGlyLeuHisGlyAsnSerPheHisSerGluAspGluIleGluTyr                               730735740                                                                      GluAsnGlnLysArgL euGluGluGluGluAspLeuAsnValLeuThr                              745750755                                                                      PheGluAspLeuLeuCysPheAlaTyrGlnValAlaLysGlyMetGlu                               760765 770                                                                     PheLeuGluPheLysSerCysValHisArgAspLeuAlaAlaArgAsn                               775780785                                                                      ValLeuValThrHisGlyLysValValLysIleCysAspPheGlyLeu                                790795800805                                                                  AlaArgAspIleMetSerAspSerAsnTyrValValArgGlyAsnAla                               810815820                                                                      ArgLe uProValLysTrpMetAlaProGluSerLeuPheGluGlyIle                              825830835                                                                      TyrThrIleLysSerAspValTrpSerTyrGlyIleLeuLeuTrpGlu                               840 845850                                                                     IlePheSerLeuGlyValAsnProTyrProGlyIleProValAspAla                               855860865                                                                      AsnPheTyrLysLeuIleGlnAsnGlyPheLysMetA spGlnProPhe                              870875880885                                                                   TyrAlaThrGluGluIleTyrIleIleMetGlnSerCysTrpAlaPhe                               890895 900                                                                     AspSerArgLysArgProSerPheProAsnLeuThrSerPheLeuGly                               905910915                                                                      CysGlnLeuAlaAspAlaGluGluAlaMetTyrGlnAsnValAspGly                                920925930                                                                     ArgValSerGluCysProHisThrTyrGlnAsnArgArgProPheSer                               935940945                                                                      ArgGluMetAspLeuGlyLeuLeuSe rProGlnAlaGlnValGluAsp                              950955960965                                                                   Ser                                                                            (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:5:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 5406 base pairs                                                    (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                            (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                                      (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                         (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO                                                            (v) FRAGMENT TYPE: N-terminal                                                  (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 208..4311                                                        (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: matpeptide                                                       (B) LOCATION: 265..4308                                                        (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: sigpeptide                                                       (B) LOCATION: 208..264                                                          (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:5:                                       CTGTGTCCCGCAGCCGGATAACCTGGCTGACCCGATTCCGCGGACACCCGTGCAGCCGCG60                 GCTGGAGCCAGGGCGCCGGTGCCCGCGCTCTCCCCGGTCTTGCGCTGCGGGGGCCGATAC120                CGCCTCTGTGACTTCTTTGCGGGCCAGGGACGGAGAAG GAGTCTGTGCCTGAGAAACTGG180               GCTCTGTGCCCAGGCGCGAGGTGCAGGATGGAGAGCAAGGGCCTGCTAGCT231                         MetGluSerLysGlyLeuLeuAla                                                       19 -15                                                                         GTCGCTCTGTGGTTCTGCGTGGAGACCCGAGCCGCCTCTGTGGGTTTG279                            ValAlaLeuTrpPheCysValGluThrArgAlaAlaSerValGlyLeu                               10- 5 15                                                                       CCTGGCGATTTTCTCCATCCCCCCAAGCTCAGCACACAGAAAGACATA327                            ProGlyAspPheLeuHisProProLysLeuSerThrGlnLysAspIle                               1015 20                                                                        CTGACAATTTTGGCAAATACAACCCTTCAGATTACTTGCAGGGGACAG375                            LeuThrIleLeuAlaAsnThrThrLeuGlnIleThrCysArgGlyGln                               2530 35                                                                        CGGGACCTGGACTGGCTTTGGCCCAATGCTCAGCGTGATTCTGAGGAA423                            ArgAspLeuAspTrpLeuTrpProAsnAlaGlnArgAspSerGluGlu                               4045 50                                                                        AGGGTATTGGTGACTGAATGCGGCGGTGGTGACAGTATCTTCTGCAAA471                            ArgValLeuValThrGluCysGlyGlyGlyAspSerIlePheCysLys                               556065                                                                         ACA CTCACCATTCCCAGGGTGGTTGGAAATGATACTGGAGCCTACAAG519                           ThrLeuThrIleProArgValValGlyAsnAspThrGlyAlaTyrLys                               70758085                                                                       T GCTCGTACCGGGACGTCGACATAGCCTCCACTGTTTATGTCTATGTT567                           CysSerTyrArgAspValAspIleAlaSerThrValTyrValTyrVal                               9095100                                                                        CG AGATTACAGATCACCATTCATCGCCTCTGTCAGTGACCAGCATGGC615                           ArgAspTyrArgSerProPheIleAlaSerValSerAspGlnHisGly                               105110115                                                                      ATCGTG TACATCACCGAGAACAAGAACAAAACTGTGGTGATCCCCTGC663                           IleValTyrIleThrGluAsnLysAsnLysThrValValIleProCys                               120125130                                                                      CGAGGGTCGATT TCAAACCTCAATGTGTCTCTTTGCGCTAGGTATCCA711                           ArgGlySerIleSerAsnLeuAsnValSerLeuCysAlaArgTyrPro                               135140145                                                                      GAAAAGAGATTTGTTCCGGATG GAAACAGAATTTCCTGGGACAGCGAG759                           GluLysArgPheValProAspGlyAsnArgIleSerTrpAspSerGlu                               150155160165                                                                   ATAGGCTTTACTCTCCCCAG TTACATGATCAGCTATGCCGGCATGGTC807                           IleGlyPheThrLeuProSerTyrMetIleSerTyrAlaGlyMetVal                               170175180                                                                      TTCTGTGAGGCAAAGATCAAT GATGAAACCTATCAGTCTATCATGTAC855                           PheCysGluAlaLysIleAsnAspGluThrTyrGlnSerIleMetTyr                               185190195                                                                      ATAGTTGTGGTTGTAGGATATAGG ATTTATGATGTGATTCTGAGCCCC903                           IleValValValValGlyTyrArgIleTyrAspValIleLeuSerPro                               200205210                                                                      CCGCATGAAATTGAGCTATCTGCCGGAGAAA AACTTGTCTTAAATTGT951                           ProHisGluIleGluLeuSerAlaGlyGluLysLeuValLeuAsnCys                               215220225                                                                      ACAGCGAGAACAGAGCTCAATGTGGGGCTTGATTTCACCTG GCACTCT999                           ThrAlaArgThrGluLeuAsnValGlyLeuAspPheThrTrpHisSer                               230235240245                                                                   CCACCTTCAAAGTCTCATCATAAGAAGATTGTAAACCGG GATGTGAAA1047                          ProProSerLysSerHisHisLysLysIleValAsnArgAspValLys                               250255260                                                                      CCCTTTCCTGGGACTGTGGCGAAGATGTTTTTGAGCACC TTGACAATA1095                          ProPheProGlyThrValAlaLysMetPheLeuSerThrLeuThrIle                               265270275                                                                      GAAAGTGTGACCAAGAGTGACCAAGGGGAATACACCTGTGTAG CGTCC1143                          GluSerValThrLysSerAspGlnGlyGluTyrThrCysValAlaSer                               280285290                                                                      AGTGGACGGATGATCAAGAGAAATAGAACATTTGTCCGAGTTCACACA 1191                          SerGlyArgMetIleLysArgAsnArgThrPheValArgValHisThr                               295300305                                                                      AAGCCTTTTATTGCTTTCGGTAGTGGGATGAAATCTTTGGTGGAAGCC1239                           LysPro PheIleAlaPheGlySerGlyMetLysSerLeuValGluAla                              310315320325                                                                   ACAGTGGGCAGTCAAGTCCGAATCCCTGTGAAGTATCTCAGTTACCCA1287                           Thr ValGlySerGlnValArgIleProValLysTyrLeuSerTyrPro                              330335340                                                                      GCTCCTGATATCAAATGGTACAGAAATGGAAGGCCCATTGAGTCCAAC1335                           AlaP roAspIleLysTrpTyrArgAsnGlyArgProIleGluSerAsn                              345350355                                                                      TACACAATGATTGTTGGCGATGAACTCACCATCATGGAAGTGACTGAA1383                           TyrThrMe tIleValGlyAspGluLeuThrIleMetGluValThrGlu                              360365370                                                                      AGAGATGCAGGAAACTACACGGTCATCCTCACCAACCCCATTTCAATG1431                           ArgAspAlaGlyAsn TyrThrValIleLeuThrAsnProIleSerMet                              375380385                                                                      GAGAAACAGAGCCACATGGTCTCTCTGGTTGTGAATGTCCCACCCCAG1479                           GluLysGlnSerHisMetValSer LeuValValAsnValProProGln                              390395400405                                                                   ATCGGTGAGAAAGCCTTGATCTCGCCTATGGATTCCTACCAGTATGGG1527                           IleGlyGluLysAlaLeuIleS erProMetAspSerTyrGlnTyrGly                              410415420                                                                      ACCATGCAGACATTGACATGCACAGTCTACGCCAACCCTCCCCTGCAC1575                           ThrMetGlnThrLeuThrCysTh rValTyrAlaAsnProProLeuHis                              425430435                                                                      CACATCCAGTGGTACTGGCAGCTAGAAGAAGCCTGCTCCTACAGACCC1623                           HisIleGlnTrpTyrTrpGlnLeuGlu GluAlaCysSerTyrArgPro                              440445450                                                                      GGCCAAACAAGCCCGTATGCTTGTAAAGAATGGAGACACGTGGAGGAT1671                           GlyGlnThrSerProTyrAlaCysLysGluTrp ArgHisValGluAsp                              455460465                                                                      TTCCAGGGGGGAAACAAGATCGAAGTCACCAAAAACCAATATGCCCTG1719                           PheGlnGlyGlyAsnLysIleGluValThrLysAsnGlnTyrA laLeu                              470475480485                                                                   ATTGAAGGAAAAAACAAAACTGTAAGTACGCTGGTCATCCAAGCTGCC1767                           IleGluGlyLysAsnLysThrValSerThrLeuValIleGl nAlaAla                              490495500                                                                      AACGTGTCAGCGTTGTACAAATGTGAAGCCATCAACAAAGCGGGACGA1815                           AsnValSerAlaLeuTyrLysCysGluAlaIleAsnLysAla GlyArg                              505510515                                                                      GGAGAGAGGGTCATCTCCTTCCATGTGATCAGGGGTCCTGAAATTACT1863                           GlyGluArgValIleSerPheHisValIleArgGlyProGluIle Thr                              520525530                                                                      GTGCAACCTGCTGCCCAGCCAACTGAGCAGGAGAGTGTGTCCCTGTTG1911                           ValGlnProAlaAlaGlnProThrGluGlnGluSerValSerLeuLeu                                535540545                                                                     TGCACTGCAGACAGAAATACGTTTGAGAACCTCACGTGGTACAAGCTT1959                           CysThrAlaAspArgAsnThrPheGluAsnLeuThrTrpTyrLysLeu                               550 555560565                                                                  GGCTCACAGGCAACATCGGTCCACATGGGCGAATCACTCACACCAGTT2007                           GlySerGlnAlaThrSerValHisMetGlyGluSerLeuThrProVal                                570575580                                                                     TGCAAGAACTTGGATGCTCTTTGGAAACTGAATGGCACCATGTTTTCT2055                           CysLysAsnLeuAspAlaLeuTrpLysLeuAsnGlyThrMetPheSer                               585 590595                                                                     AACAGCACAAATGACATCTTGATTGTGGCATTTCAGAATGCCTCTCTG2103                           AsnSerThrAsnAspIleLeuIleValAlaPheGlnAsnAlaSerLeu                               600 605610                                                                     CAGGACCAAGGCGACTATGTTTGCTCTGCTCAAGATAAGAAGACCAAG2151                           GlnAspGlnGlyAspTyrValCysSerAlaGlnAspLysLysThrLys                               615620 625                                                                     AAAAGACATTGCCTGGTCAAACAGCTCATCATCCTAGAGCGCATGGCA2199                           LysArgHisCysLeuValLysGlnLeuIleIleLeuGluArgMetAla                               63063564 0645                                                                  CCCATGATCACCGGAAATCTGGAGAATCAGACAACAACCATTGGCGAG2247                           ProMetIleThrGlyAsnLeuGluAsnGlnThrThrThrIleGlyGlu                               650655 660                                                                     ACCATTGAAGTGACTTGCCCAGCATCTGGAAATCCTACCCCACACATT2295                           ThrIleGluValThrCysProAlaSerGlyAsnProThrProHisIle                               665670 675                                                                     ACATGGTTCAAAGACAACGAGACCCTGGTAGAAGATTCAGGCATTGTA2343                           ThrTrpPheLysAspAsnGluThrLeuValGluAspSerGlyIleVal                               680685 690                                                                     CTGAGAGATGGGAACCGGAACCTGACTATCCGCAGGGTGAGGAAGGAG2391                           LeuArgAspGlyAsnArgAsnLeuThrIleArgArgValArgLysGlu                               695700705                                                                      GAT GGAGGCCTCTACACCTGCCAGGCCTGCAATGTCCTTGGCTGTGCA2439                          AspGlyGlyLeuTyrThrCysGlnAlaCysAsnValLeuGlyCysAla                               710715720725                                                                   A GAGCGGAGACGCTCTTCATAATAGAAGGTGCCCAGGAAAAGACCAAC2487                          ArgAlaGluThrLeuPheIleIleGluGlyAlaGlnGluLysThrAsn                               730735740                                                                      TT GGAAGTCAITATCCTCGTCGGCACTGCAGTGATTGCCATGTTCTTC2535                          LeuGluValIleIleLeuValGlyThrAlaValIleAlaMetPhePhe                               745750755                                                                      TGGCTC CTTCTTGTCATTCTCGTACGGACCGTTAAGCGGGCCAATGAA2583                          TrpLeuLeuLeuValIleLeuValArgThrValLysArgAlaAsnGlu                               760765770                                                                      GGGGAACTGAAG ACAGGCTACTTGTCTATTGTCATGGATCCAGATGAA2631                          GlyGluLeuLysThrGlyTyrLeuSerIleValMetAspProAspGlu                               775780785                                                                      TTGCCCTTGGATGAGCGCTGTG AACGCTTGCCTTATGATGCCAGCAAG2679                          LeuProLeuAspGluArgCysGluArgLeuProTyrAspAlaSerLys                               790795800805                                                                   TGGGAATTCCCCAGGGACCG GCTGAAACTAGGAAAACCTCTTGGCCGC2727                          TrpGluPheProArgAspArgLeuLysLeuGlyLysProLeuGlyArg                               810815820                                                                      GGTGCCTTCGGCCAAGTGATT GAGGCAGACGCTTTTGGAATTGACAAG2775                          GlyAlaPheGlyGlnValIleGluAlaAspAlaPheGlyIleAspLys                               825830835                                                                      ACAGCGACTTGCAAAACAGTAGCC GTCAAGATGTTGAAAGAAGGAGCA2823                          ThrAlaThrCysLysThrValAlaValLysMetLeuLysGluGlyAla                               840845850                                                                      ACACACAGCGAGCATCGAGCCCTCATGTCTG AACTCAAGATCCTCATC2871                          ThrHisSerGluHisArgAlaLeuMetSerGluLeuLysIleLeuIle                               855860865                                                                      CACATTGGTCACCATCTCAATGTGGTGAACCTCCTAGGCGC CTGCACC2919                          HisIleGlyHisHisLeuAsnValValAsnLeuLeuGlyAlaCysThr                               870875880885                                                                   AAGCCGGGAGGGCCTCTCATGGTGATTGTGGAATTCTCG AAGTTTGGA2967                          LysProGlyGlyProLeuMetValIleValGluPheSerLysPheGly                               890895900                                                                      AACCTATCAACTTACTTACGGGGCAAGAGAAATGAATTT GTTCCCTAT3015                          AsnLeuSerThrTyrLeuArgGlyLysArgAsnGluPheValProTyr                               905910915                                                                      AAGAGCAAAGGGGCACGCTTCCGCCAGGGCAAGGACTACGTTG GGGAG3063                          LysSerLysGlyAlaArgPheArgGlnGlyLysAspTyrValGlyGlu                               920925930                                                                      CTCTCCGTGGATCTGAAAAGACGCTTGGACAGCATCACCAGCAGCCAG 3111                          LeuSerValAspLeuLysArgArgLeuAspSerIleThrSerSerGln                               935940945                                                                      AGCTCTGCCAGCTCAGGCTTTGTTGAGGAGAAATCGCTCAGTGATGTA3159                           SerSer AlaSerSerGlyPheValGluGluLysSerLeuSerAspVal                              950955960965                                                                   GAGGAAGAAGAAGCTTCTGAAGAACTGTACAAGGACTTCCTGACCTTG3207                           Glu GluGluGluAlaSerGluGluLeuTyrLysAspPheLeuThrLeu                              970975980                                                                      GAGCATCTCATCTGTTACAGCTTCCAAGTGGCTAAGGGCATGGAGTTC3255                           GluH isLeuIleCysTyrSerPheGlnValAlaLysGlyMetGluPhe                              985990995                                                                      TTGGCATCAAGGAAGTGTATCCACAGGGACCTGGCAGCACGAAACATT3303                           LeuAlaSe rArgLysCysIleHisArgAspLeuAlaAlaArgAsnIle                              100010051010                                                                   CTCCTATCGGAGAAGAATGTGGTTAAGATCTGTGACTTCGGCTTGGCC3351                           LeuLeuSerGluLy sAsnValValLysIleCysAspPheGlyLeuAla                              101510201025                                                                   CGGGACATTTATAAAGACCCGGATTATGTCAGAAAAGGAGATGCCCGA3399                           ArgAspIleTyrLysAspProAs pTyrValArgLysGlyAspAlaArg                              1030103510401045                                                               CTCCCTTTGAAGTGGATGGCCCCGGAAACCATTTTTGACAGAGTATAC3447                           LeuProLeuLysTrpMetAl aProGluThrIlePheAspArgValTyr                              105010551060                                                                   ACAATTCAGAGCGATGTGTGGTCTTTCGGTGTGTTGCTCTGGGAAATA3495                           ThrIleGlnSerAspValTr pSerPheGlyValLeuLeuTrpGluIle                              106510701075                                                                   TTTTCCTTAGGTGCCTCCCCATACCCTGGGGTCAAGATTGATGAAGAA3543                           PheSerLeuGlyAlaSerProTy rProGlyValLysIleAspGluGlu                              108010851090                                                                   TTTTGTAGGAGATTGAAAGAAGGAACTAGAATGCGGGCTCCTGACTAC3591                           PheCysArgArgLeuLysGluGlyThrAr gMetArgAlaProAspTyr                              109511001105                                                                   ACTACCCCAGAAATGTACCAGACCATGCTGGACTGCTGGCATGAGGAC3639                           ThrThrProGluMetTyrGlnThrMetLeuAspCysTr pHisGluAsp                              1110111511201125                                                               CCCAACCAGAGACCCTCGTTTTCAGAGTTGGTGGAGCATTTGGGAAAC3687                           ProAsnGlnArgProSerPheSerGluLeuValGl uHisLeuGlyAsn                              113011351140                                                                   CTCCTGCAAGCAAATGCGCAGCAGGATGGCAAAGACTATATTGTTCTT3735                           LeuLeuGlnAlaAsnAlaGlnGlnAspGlyLysAs pTyrIleValLeu                              114511501155                                                                   CCAATGTCAGAGACACTGAGCATGGAAGAGGATTCTGGACTCTCCCTG3783                           ProMetSerGluThrLeuSerMetGluGluAspSerGl yLeuSerLeu                              116011651170                                                                   CCTACCTCACCTGTTTCCTGTATGGAGGAAGAGGAAGTGTGCGACCCC3831                           ProThrSerProValSerCysMetGluGluGluGluValCysAs pPro                              117511801185                                                                   AAATTCCATTATGACAACACAGCAGGAATCAGTCATTATCTCCAGAAC3879                           LysPheHisTyrAspAsnThrAlaGlyIleSerHisTyrLeuGlnAsn                               1190 119512001205                                                              AGTAAGCGAAAGAGCCGGCCAGTGAGTGTAAAAACATTTGAAGATATC3927                           SerLysArgLysSerArgProValSerValLysThrPheGluAspIle                                121012151220                                                                  CCATTGGAGGAACCAGAAGTAAAAGTGATCCCAGATGACAGCCAGACA3975                           ProLeuGluGluProGluValLysValIleProAspAspSerGlnThr                                122512301235                                                                  GACAGTGGGATGGTCCTTGCATCAGAAGAGCTGAAAACTCTGGAAGAC4023                           AspSerGlyMetValLeuAlaSerGluGluLeuLysThrLeuGluAsp                                124012451250                                                                  AGGAACAAATTATCTCCATCTTTTGGTGGAATGATGCCCAGTAAAAGC4071                           ArgAsnLysLeuSerProSerPheGlyGlyMetMetProSerLysSer                               1255 12601265                                                                  AGGGAGTCTGTGGCCTCGGAAGGCTCCAACCAGACCAGTGGCTACCAG4119                           ArgGluSerValAlaSerGluGlySerAsnGlnThrSerGlyTyrGln                               12701275 12801285                                                              TCTGGGTATCACTCAGATGACACAGACACCACCGTGTACTCCAGCGAC4167                           SerGlyTyrHisSerAspAspThrAspThrThrValTyrSerSerAsp                               1290 12951300                                                                  GAGGCAGGACTTTTAAAGATGGTGGATGCTGCAGTTCACGCTGACTCA4215                           GluAlaGlyLeuLeuLysMetValAspAlaAlaValHisAlaAspSer                               1305 13101315                                                                  GGGACCACACTGCAGCTCACCTCCTGTTTAAATGGAAGTGGTCCTGTC4263                           GlyThrThrLeuGlnLeuThrSerCysLeuAsnGlySerGlyProVal                               1320 13251330                                                                  CCGGCTCCGCCCCCAACTCCTGGAAATCACGAGAGAGGTGCTGCT                                  TAGATTTTCA4318                                                                 ProAlaProProProThrProGlyAsnHisGluArgGlyAlaAla                                  13351340 1345                                                                  AGTGTTGTTCTTTCCACCACCCGGAAGTAGCCACATTTGATTTTCATTTTTGGAGGAGGG4378               ACCTCAGACTGCAAGGAGCTTGTCCTCAGGGCATTTCCAGAGAAGATGCCCATGACCCAA4438               GAATGTGTTGACTCTACTCTCTTTTCCATT CATTTAAAAGTCCTATATAATGTGCCCTGC4498              TGTGGTCTCACTACCAGTTAAAGCAAAAGACTTTCAAACACGTGGACTCTGTCCTCCAAG4558               AAGTGGCAACGGCACCTCTGTGAAACTGGATCGAATGGGCAATGCTTTGTGTGTTGAGGA4618               TGGGTGAGATGTC CCAGGGCCGAGTCTGTCTACCTTGGAGGCTTTGTGGAGGATGCGGCT4678              ATGAGCCAAGTGTTAAGTGTGGGATGTGGACTGGGAGGAAGGAAGGCGCAAGCCGTCCGG4738               AGAGCGGTTGGAGCCTGCAGATGCATTGTGCTGGCTCTGGTGGAGGTGGGCTTGTGGCCT47 98              GTCAGGAAACGCAAAGGCGGCCGGCAGGGTTTGGTTTTGGAAGGTTTGCGTGCTCTTCAC4858               AGTCGGGTTACAGGCGAGTTCCCTGTGGCGTTTCCTACTCCTAATGAGAGTTCCTTCCGG4918               ACTCTTACGTGTCTCCTGGCCTGGCCCCAGGAAGGAAATGATGCA GCTTGCTCCTTCCTC4978              ATCTCTCAGGCTGTGCCTTAATTCAGAACACCAAAAGAGAGGAACGTCGGCAGAGGCTCC5038               TGACGGGGCCGAAGAATTGTGAGAACAGAACAGAAACTCAGGGTTTCTGCTGGGTGGAGA5098               CCCACGTGGCGCCCTGGTGGCAGGTCTG AGGGTTCTCTGTCAAGTGGCGGTAAAGGCTCA5158              GGCTGGTGTTCTTCCTCTATCTCCACTCCTGTCAGGCCCCCAAGTCCTCAGTATTTTAGC5218               TTTGTGGCTTCCTGATGGCAGAAAAATCTTAATTGGTTGGTTTGCTCTCCAGATAATCAC5278               TAGCCAGATT TCGAAATTACTTTTTAGCCGAGGTTATGATAACATCTACTGTATCCTTTA5338              GAATTTTAACCTATAAAACTATGTCTACTGGTTTCTGCCTGTGTGCTTATGTTAAAAAAA5398               AAAAAAAA 5406                                                                  (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:6:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 1367 amino acids                                                   (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:6:                                        MetGluSerLysGlyLeuLeuAlaValAlaLeuTrpPheCysValGlu                                19- 15-10-5                                                                   ThrArgAlaAlaSerValGlyLeuProGlyAspPheLeuHisProPro                               1510                                                                           LysLeuSerThrGln LysAspIleLeuThrIleLeuAlaAsnThrThr                              152025                                                                         LeuGlnIleThrCysArgGlyGlnArgAspLeuAspTrpLeuTrpPro                               3035 4045                                                                      AsnAlaGlnArgAspSerGluGluArgValLeuValThrGluCysGly                               505560                                                                         GlyGlyAspSerIlePheCysLysThrLeuThrIl eProArgValVal                              657075                                                                         GlyAsnAspThrGlyAlaTyrLysCysSerTyrArgAspValAspIle                               808590                                                                         Ala SerThrValTyrValTyrValArgAspTyrArgSerProPheIle                              95100105                                                                       AlaSerValSerAspGlnHisGlyIleValTyrIleThrGluAsnLys                               110115 120125                                                                  AsnLysThrValValIleProCysArgGlySerIleSerAsnLeuAsn                               130135140                                                                      ValSerLeuCysAlaArgTyrPro GluLysArgPheValProAspGly                              145150155                                                                      AsnArgIleSerTrpAspSerGluIleGlyPheThrLeuProSerTyr                               160165 170                                                                     MetIleSerTyrAlaGlyMetValPheCysGluAlaLysIleAsnAsp                               175180185                                                                      GluThrTyrGlnSerIleMetTyrIleValValValValGlyTyrArg                               190 195200205                                                                  IleTyrAspValIleLeuSerProProHisGluIleGluLeuSerAla                               210215220                                                                      GlyGluLysLeu ValLeuAsnCysThrAlaArgThrGluLeuAsnVal                              225230235                                                                      GlyLeuAspPheThrTrpHisSerProProSerLysSerHisHisLys                               240 245250                                                                     LysIleValAsnArgAspValLysProPheProGlyThrValAlaLys                               255260265                                                                      MetPheLeuSerThrLeuThrIleGluSerValThrLysSerAsp Gln                              270275280285                                                                   GlyGluTyrThrCysValAlaSerSerGlyArgMetIleLysArgAsn                               290295300                                                                      A rgThrPheValArgValHisThrLysProPheIleAlaPheGlySer                              305310315                                                                      GlyMetLysSerLeuValGluAlaThrValGlySerGlnValArgIle                               320 325330                                                                     ProValLysTyrLeuSerTyrProAlaProAspIleLysTrpTyrArg                               335340345                                                                      AsnGlyArgProIleGluSerAsnTyrThrMet IleValGlyAspGlu                              350355360365                                                                   LeuThrIleMetGluValThrGluArgAspAlaGlyAsnTyrThrVal                               370375 380                                                                     IleLeuThrAsnProIleSerMetGluLysGlnSerHisMetValSer                               385390395                                                                      LeuValValAsnValProProGlnIleGlyGluLysAlaLeuIleSer                               400405410                                                                      ProMetAspSerTyrGlnTyrGlyThrMetGlnThrLeuThrCysThr                               415420425                                                                      ValTyrAlaAsnProProLeuH isHisIleGlnTrpTyrTrpGlnLeu                              430435440445                                                                   GluGluAlaCysSerTyrArgProGlyGlnThrSerProTyrAlaCys                               450 455460                                                                     LysGluTrpArgHisValGluAspPheGlnGlyGlyAsnLysIleGlu                               465470475                                                                      ValThrLysAsnGlnTyrAlaLeuIleGluGlyLys AsnLysThrVal                              480485490                                                                      SerThrLeuValIleGlnAlaAlaAsnValSerAlaLeuTyrLysCys                               495500505                                                                      GluAlaIleAs nLysAlaGlyArgGlyGluArgValIleSerPheHis                              510515520525                                                                   ValIleArgGlyProGluIleThrValGlnProAlaAlaGlnProThr                               53 0535540                                                                     GluGlnGluSerValSerLeuLeuCysThrAlaAspArgAsnThrPhe                               545550555                                                                      GluAsnLeuThrTrpTyrLysLeuG lySerGlnAlaThrSerValHis                              560565570                                                                      MetGlyGluSerLeuThrProValCysLysAsnLeuAspAlaLeuTrp                               575580585                                                                       LysLeuAsnGlyThrMetPheSerAsnSerThrAsnAspIleLeuIle                              590595600605                                                                   ValAlaPheGlnAsnAlaSerLeuGlnAspGlnGlyAspTyrValCys                                610615620                                                                     SerAlaGlnAspLysLysThrLysLysArgHisCysLeuValLysGln                               625630635                                                                      LeuIleIleLeuGl uArgMetAlaProMetIleThrGlyAsnLeuGlu                              640645650                                                                      AsnGlnThrThrThrIleGlyGluThrIleGluValThrCysProAla                               655660 665                                                                     SerGlyAsnProThrProHisIleThrTrpPheLysAspAsnGluThr                               670675680685                                                                   LeuValGluAspSerGlyIleValLeuArgAspGlyAsnA rgAsnLeu                              690695700                                                                      ThrIleArgArgValArgLysGluAspGlyGlyLeuTyrThrCysGln                               705710715                                                                      Ala CysAsnValLeuGlyCysAlaArgAlaGluThrLeuPheIleIle                              720725730                                                                      GluGlyAlaGlnGluLysThrAsnLeuGluValIleIleLeuValGly                               735 740745                                                                     ThrAlaValIleAlaMetPhePheTrpLeuLeuLeuValIleLeuVal                               750755760765                                                                   ArgThrValLysArgAlaAsnGluGlyGl uLeuLysThrGlyTyrLeu                              770775780                                                                      SerIleValMetAspProAspGluLeuProLeuAspGluArgCysGlu                               785790 795                                                                     ArgLeuProTyrAspAlaSerLysTrpGluPheProArgAspArgLeu                               800805810                                                                      LysLeuGlyLysProLeuGlyArgGlyAlaPheGlyGlnValIleGlu                                815820825                                                                     AlaAspAlaPheGlyIleAspLysThrAlaThrCysLysThrValAla                               830835840845                                                                   ValLysMetLeuLysGlu GlyAlaThrHisSerGluHisArgAlaLeu                              850855860                                                                      MetSerGluLeuLysIleLeuIleHisIleGlyHisHisLeuAsnVal                               865 870875                                                                     ValAsnLeuLeuGlyAlaCysThrLysProGlyGlyProLeuMetVal                               880885890                                                                      IleValGluPheSerLysPheGlyAsnLeuSerThrTyrLe uArgGly                              895900905                                                                      LysArgAsnGluPheValProTyrLysSerLysGlyAlaArgPheArg                               910915920925                                                                   GlnGly LysAspTyrValGlyGluLeuSerValAspLeuLysArgArg                              930935940                                                                      LeuAspSerIleThrSerSerGlnSerSerAlaSerSerGlyPheVal                               945 950955                                                                     GluGluLysSerLeuSerAspValGluGluGluGluAlaSerGluGlu                               960965970                                                                      LeuTyrLysAspPheLeuThrLeuGluHis LeuIleCysTyrSerPhe                              975980985                                                                      GlnValAlaLysGlyMetGluPheLeuAlaSerArgLysCysIleHis                               9909951000 1005                                                                ArgAspLeuAlaAlaArgAsnIleLeuLeuSerGluLysAsnValVal                               101010151020                                                                   LysIleCysAspPheGlyLeuAlaArgAspIleTyrLysAspProAsp                                102510301035                                                                  TyrValArgLysGlyAspAlaArgLeuProLeuLysTrpMetAlaPro                               104010451050                                                                   GluThrIlePheAsp ArgValTyrThrIleGlnSerAspValTrpSer                              105510601065                                                                   PheGlyValLeuLeuTrpGluIlePheSerLeuGlyAlaSerProTyr                               10701075 10801085                                                              ProGlyValLysIleAspGluGluPheCysArgArgLeuLysGluGly                               109010951100                                                                   ThrArgMetArgAlaProAspTyrThrThrPro GluMetTyrGlnThr                              110511101115                                                                   MetLeuAspCysTrpHisGluAspProAsnGlnArgProSerPheSer                               112011251130                                                                    GluLeuValGluHisLeuGlyAsnLeuLeuGlnAlaAsnAlaGlnGln                              113511401145                                                                   AspGlyLysAspTyrIleValLeuProMetSerGluThrLeuSerMet                               1150 115511601165                                                              GluGluAspSerGlyLeuSerLeuProThrSerProValSerCysMet                               117011751180                                                                   GluGluGluGluValCys AspProLysPheHisTyrAspAsnThrAla                              118511901195                                                                   GlyIleSerHisTyrLeuGlnAsnSerLysArgLysSerArgProVal                               12001205 1210                                                                  SerValLysThrPheGluAspIleProLeuGluGluProGluValLys                               121512201225                                                                   ValIleProAspAspSerGlnThrAspSerGlyMetValLeuAlaSer                                1230123512401245                                                              GluGluLeuLysThrLeuGluAspArgAsnLysLeuSerProSerPhe                               125012551260                                                                   Gly GlyMetMetProSerLysSerArgGluSerValAlaSerGluGly                              126512701275                                                                   SerAsnGlnThrSerGlyTyrGlnSerGlyTyrHisSerAspAspThr                               1280 12851290                                                                  AspThrThrValTyrSerSerAspGluAlaGlyLeuLeuLysMetVal                               129513001305                                                                   AspAlaAlaValHisAlaAspSerGlyThrThr LeuGlnLeuThrSer                              1310131513201325                                                               CysLeuAsnGlySerGlyProValProAlaProProProThrProGly                               13301335 1340                                                                  AsnHisGluArgGlyAlaAla                                                          1345                                                                           (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:7:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 96 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: CDNA                                                       (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                         (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO                                                            (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:7:                                        AATTCGTCGACTTTCTGTCACCATGAGTGCACTTCTGATCCTAGCCCTTGTGGGAGCTGC60                 TGTTGCTGACTACAAAGATGATGATGACAAGATCTA96                                         (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:8:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A ) LENGTH: 96 base pairs                                                     (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: CDNA                                                       (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                         (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO                                                            (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:8:                                        AGCTTAGATCTTGTCATCATCATCTTTGTAGTCAGCAACAGCAGCTCCCACAGAGGCTAG60                 GATCAGAAGT GCACTCATGGTGACAGAAAGTCGACG96                                        (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:9:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 30 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY; linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: cDNA                                                       (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                         (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO                                                             (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:9:                                       TGAGAAGATCTCAAACCAAGACCTGCCTGT30                                               (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:10:                                              (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 34 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: CDNA                                                        (iii) HYPOTHETICAL: NO                                                        (iv) ANTI-SENSE: NO                                                            (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:10:                                       CCAATGGCGGCCGCTCAGGAGATGTTGTCTTGGA34                                       

What I claim is:
 1. An isolated protein that is murine flk-2 having the sequence shown in FIG. 1 SEQ. ID. NOS. 1 and
 2. 2. The protein according to claim 1 that is flk-2 comprising the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 1 SEQ. ID. NOS. 1-2 from amino acid -27 to amino acid
 517. 3. The protein according to claim 1 that is flk-2 comprising the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 1 SEQ. ID. NOS. 1-2 from amino acid 1 to amino acid
 517. 4. The protein according to claim 1 that is flk-2 comprising the amino acid sequence shown in FIG. 1 SEQ. ID. NOS. 1-2 from amino acid 1 to amino acid
 965. 